Photograph © Anthony Iacuzzi
ABOUT WESLEY WILLIS
Wesley Willis (1963-2003) was a self-trained artist and native Chicagoan, growing up on Chicago’s Southside. Willis honed his technical abilities in the Chicago Public Schools, where he received an ‘A’ in his drafting class and aspired to become an architect.
Willis could often be found sharing his drawings on the streets of Chicago and engaging those passing by, his personality and sensitive heart earning him a dedicated following. Willis’s graphic vision captures the urban life spirit of the late 20th century. As an intuitive artist he has made a bold, genuine, and unique contribution to the visual arts. His work is represented in significant museum collections both in Europe and America.
EXHIBITIONS
2019 | City of Many Dreams
PRESS
2019 | Chicago Reader, The Many Dreams of Wesley Willis
2019 | Block Club Chicago, Chicago Icon Wesley Willis’ Vibrant Cityscapes Come To West Town In ‘City of Many Dreams’ Art Exhibit
2019 | Newcity, Chicago Dreaming: A Review of Wesley Willis at Matthew Rachman Gallery
2019 | Crain’s Chicago Business, The Best Art to See This Fall
2019 | Chicago Reader, Matthew Rachman Gallery Opens a New Exhibit of Wesley Willis’s artwork
WORK
by Wesley Willis
1982
ballpoint pen + colored pencil on cardboard
each 28 ⅛” h x 40 ⅛” w
by Wesley Willis
1985
ballpoint pen, felt tip pen, + colored pencil on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 39 ⅛” w
by Wesley Willis
1982
ballpoint pen + colored pencil on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 40 ⅛” w
by Wesley Willis
1982
ballpoint pen + colored pencil on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 40 ⅛” w
by Wesley Willis
1984
ballpoint + felt tip pen on cardboard
22” h x 26 ¼” w
framed, 22 ¼" h x 26 ⅜" w x 1 ⅛" d
by Wesley Willis
1985
ballpoint pen, felt tip pen, + colored pencil on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 39 ⅛” w
framed
by Wesley Willis
October 13, 1982
ballpoint pen, felt tip pen, colored pencil, + crayon on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 43 ⅛” w
by Wesley Willis
January 25, 1983
ballpoint pen + colored pencil on cardboard
28 ¼” h x 42 ¼” w
by Wesley Willis
1985
ballpoint pen, felt tip pen, + colored pencil on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 39 ⅛” w
framed
by Wesley Willis
1984
ballpoint pen + felt tip pen on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 40 ⅛” w
framed
by Wesley Willis
1982
ballpoint pen + colored pencil on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 39 ⅛” w
by Wesley Willis
1985
ballpoint pen + felt tip pen on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 39 ⅛” w
framed, 28 ½" h x 39 ¼" w x 1 ⅛" d
by Wesley Willis
November 1981
ballpoint pen + pencil on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 43 ⅛” w
by Wesley Willis
1982-1983
ballpoint pen and colored pencil on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 39 ⅛” w
by Wesley Willis
October 10, 1982
ballpoint pen + colored pencil on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 43 ¼” w
by Wesley Willis
1983
ballpoint pen + colored pencil on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 37” w
by Wesley Willis
1991
ballpoint pen + felt tip pen on cardboard, varnished
28 ⅛” h x 41 ½” w
framed, 28 ⅛" h x 41 ½" w x 1 ⅛" d
by Wesley Willis
1989
ballpoint + felt tip pen on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 41 ⅛” w
framed
by Wesley Willis
original drawing “The Chicago Cityscapes” 1984
limited edition archival inkjet print of 30
image: 22” h x 26” w; paper: 24 ½” h x 28” w
unframed
by Wesley Willis
1991
ballpoint pen + felt tip pen on cardboard, varnished
28 ⅛” h x 41 ¼” w
by Wesley Willis
1982
ballpoint pen + colored pencil on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 40 ⅛” w
by Wesley Willis
1986
ballpoint pen, felt tip pen, + colored pencil on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 40 ⅛” w
by Wesley Willis
1985
ballpoint pen, felt tip pen, + colored pencil on cardboard
28 ⅛”h x 39 ⅛” w
by Wesley Willis
May 29, 1985
ballpoint pen + colored pencil on paper
11” h x 14” w
framed
by Wesley Willis
1986
ballpoint pen, felt tip pen, + colored pencil on cardboard
28 ⅛” h x 40 ⅛” w
framed, 28 ¼" h x 40 ⅜" w x 1 ⅛" d