Artist Gladys Nilsson, at 86, is on the cusp of unveiling the most extensive exhibition of her career, "Gleefully Askew," a retrospective that promises to captivate art enthusiasts. This grand showing is set to commence on July 19 at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, California, before moving to the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art in Wisconsin. The exhibition will feature a remarkable collection of over 100 pieces, encompassing watercolors, acrylic paintings, collages, and drawings, all created over a span of six decades. Nilsson, who has resided in Wilmette, north of Chicago, since 1976 with her husband, artist Jim Nutt, met him in 1960 while both were students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Nilsson and Nutt gained prominence in the late 1960s as integral members of the Hairy Who, a faction of Chicago Imagists celebrated for their distinctive, figurative art that blended cartoonish whimsy with irreverent absurdity. Their collective work left a significant mark on the art world, distinguishing them as a vibrant counterpoint to New York’s Pop Art movement. Nilsson's art is renowned for its vibrant, stylized figures, often depicted with eccentric features and proportions within scenes of joyful disarray. These figures, engaged in frolicking and mischievous acts, are deeply rooted in Nilsson's observations of everyday life, transforming the mundane into compelling micro-dramas. Although she doesn't consider her characters self-portraits, they undeniably mirror her keen humor, and her unique viewpoint as a woman and a mother, evolving alongside her own life experiences. A pivotal moment in her career was her exhibition at the Whitney Museum in New York in 1973, where she was one of the first women to have a solo show, displaying a range of acrylic paintings and smaller works in embroidery hoops, highlighting her diverse technical abilities.
Nilsson’s early life, growing up on Chicago's North Side as the only child of working-class Swedish immigrants, fostered her love for drawing and reading. Despite her mother's conventional career aspirations for her, Nilsson pursued art at SAIC, a decision she still marvels at. Her artistic breakthrough came when she painted a personal experience from the school lunchroom, marking a shift from observational art to emotionally driven expression. This personal approach became a cornerstone of her teaching philosophy when she later returned to SAIC. A significant evolution in her artistic practice occurred in 1962, during her pregnancy, when she transitioned from toxic oil paints to watercolors. Embracing this medium, traditionally associated with softness, Nilsson subverted expectations by using thick paper and layering techniques to achieve depth and texture, proving watercolor's versatility and power. In the 1990s, Nilsson, then in her fifties, explored collages, utilizing personal photographs and vintage Vogue magazines. These collages, featuring distorted figures in surreal settings, serve as psychological explorations and became a creative lifeline during times when larger works were physically challenging. Her monumental 2010 painting, "Big Birthday Gladys," created for her 70th birthday, encapsulates her signature style: a crowded scene of lively characters celebrating, with a tiny photograph of her three-year-old self playfully included, underscoring the personal joy she finds in her creations.
Gladys Nilsson's journey through art, from a Hairy Who pioneer to an acclaimed independent artist, reflects a profound dedication to her unique vision. Her unwavering commitment to her artistic practice, even in the face of conventional expectations about medium and gender, showcases a spirit of innovation and self-expression. Her work inspires us to embrace individuality, challenge norms, and find joy and meaning in our personal creative pursuits, proving that true artistry transcends labels and continues to evolve with life's adventures.