Stephanie Wilde, a self-taught artist whose career has spanned over three decades, is known for her elaborate and exquisitely detailed artwork, which at first glance seems to belong to a different era. It brings to mind the delicate imagery of the intricate European textile designs of the 14th century, illuminated manuscripts, or Persian miniatures. As contemporary as her subjects are, Wilde’s aesthetic, ideals, and work ethic are descended from earlier artistic traditions, particularly ones which addressed social, spiritual, or philosophical issues.
Stephanie Wilde has the ability to portray biting social commentary while remaining true to a cultivated aestheticism. Her approach to each project is painstakingly methodical, starting with research of fact and lore supported by scientific, historical and literary sources, while relying on symbolism and historical context to inform a complex narrative. Wilde’s technique is also painstakingly exercised, her works incorporating ink, acrylic and gold leaf in a combination of both painting and drawing.
Wilde has received three Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts through the Idaho Arts Commission, the State of Idaho Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts, and the Idaho Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. In 2015, she was given a prestigious Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant for painting. Her work is placed in numerous public and private collections, including the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation in Mount Kisco, New York, the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Forum Gallery presented their first solo exhibition for the artist, Murder of Crows, from May 25 – June 30, 2018. The Boise Art Museum in Idaho will present a Stephanie Wilde retrospective exhibition from June 29 – October 13, 2019.