How Phoenix Artist Paul Wilson Transformed a Mid-Century Obsession into a Decades-Spanning Career

Paul Wilson might have been the Phoenix art scene’s best-kept secret. Until recently, that is.

The 50-year-old artist’s creative endeavors, centered on his obsession with 1950s and ’60s pop culture, have spanned both decades and media including photography, video, and performance, while he makes a living freelancing as a set designer and painter for various Valley theater troupes.

See also: Tour de Farce – The Faux, Fake, and Fabulous Art of Paul Wilson

Not only has Wilson exhibited set design skills with his mid-century fascination in public, he also transformed his childhood home, which he lived and created art in until a few months ago, into a picture-almost-perfect replica of a House Beautiful spread from the ’50s.

To read more, check out Kathleen Vanesian’s cover story on Paul Wilson — complete with his art, a rundown of his recurring characters, and a video tour of his former home.

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