Profile

Daniel Wilder

Wilder Street Studio Arts

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Profile

Daniel Wilder: Painter, Art Theorist, and Author

Early Life and Education

Daniel Wilder was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois in 1951. Growing up on the North Side, he developed an early passion for art. As a youth, one of his favorite activities was riding the EL (elevated train) downtown to visit the Art Institute of Chicago. These visits prompted the realization that painting was a discipline with much more depth than he had initially understood.

Personal Life and Relocation

In June 1972, Wilder met Ilene Levy, a modern jazz dancer, through a mutual friend. Their attraction was immediate, and they were married just two months later. In April 1973, the couple moved from Chicago to Santa Cruz, California, where Wilder enrolled in the Studio Arts and Art History Program at Cabrillo College to further pursue his artistic interests.

Professional Development in San Francisco

In 1975, Wilder and his wife relocated to San Francisco, California. During their time in the city, Wilder joined Patricia’s Production Company, contributing as a set and lighting designer. This work stimulated his interest in understanding how natural and artificial light sources affected pigment colors—a curiosity that would influence his approach to painting throughout his career.

Innovation and New Artistic Directions

Despite the prevailing view among contemporary Dadaists that the discipline of painting was dead and buried, Wilder persisted in developing his own style, new concepts and created a new painting technique. After moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1980, he continued refining his technique and began experimenting with mixed media pieces.

Return to Chicago and Multi-Sensory Art

In 1989, the Wilders returned to Chicago. In the early 1990s, Wilder became a pioneer and advocate for Multi-Sensory Art/Media, artworks designed to engage any of the five senses. Along with his painting technique having tactile qualities, he began creating experimental works using the residue of dried paint from glass palettes, calling these creations Recycled Acrylics. In 1996, he commenced research for his treatise, "Art with an Attitude," which explores the history and evolution of the materials and techniques of painting.

Later Work and Publications

After moving to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region in 2003, Daniel Wilder continued his dedication to both painting and research. While his earlier artistic approach often involved monothematic paintings, he also enjoyed creating series comprised of two or more pieces. Occasionally, these series would include a narrative that brought together thematic elements within each painting.

Having completed two new series titled "Synthesis" and "In Waves,” Wilder began drafting versions of his Manifesto, further developing his ideas regarding dimension and space within paintings. In 2017 he published his treatise, "Art with an Attitude." Notably, this publication did not refer to his own artwork. Later in that same year, Wilder published "The Manifesto Concerning Das." This work featured Articles of Intent and provided detailed descriptions of the sixteen dimensions associated with Das, an acronym for Dimension and Space.

Prototype Development for New Series

Continuing his exploration and innovation within the discipline of painting, Wilder continues to challenge himself and to further push the boundaries of contemporary painting. At present, Wilder is dedicating time to creating a prototype painting for an upcoming series.

Drawing upon his background in developing new concepts and techniques, Wilder strengthens his commitment to investigating the effects of light—both natural and artificial—on pigmented colours and the textural surface of his paintings. As these elements help define his approach to this new body of work, Wilder’s current project marks the latest chapter in his life journey.