Critic Wilson Leaves The Times

After 33 years of writing art criticism for The Times--when Los Angeles evolved from a cultural back-water to a major art center--William Wilson is leaving to write books and pursue other projects.

“One of the things I have enjoyed most about my work is covering a tremendous panorama of art, from Egyptian antiquities to art that’s hot off the griddle,” Wilson said. “It has been a big challenge, a big opportunity and a big learning experience to write about everything from little community shows to connoisseurs’ exhibitions of master drawings at the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens.”

Observing the growth and development of Los Angeles’ art scene has been fascinating as well, he said. “Hanging up my journalistic shoes as the century dwindles, I feel as if I have witnessed a whole chapter of a history book.”

But now he is writing a book of his own. Among other projects, Wilson is working on a survey of art in Southern California during the 20th century, to be published by the University of California Press.

Wilson, 64, is a native of Los Angeles and a graduate of UCLA who began his career at The Times in 1965 as a freelance critic. He joined the staff in 1968 and became The Times’ art critic in 1978, after the death of his predecessor, Henry Seldis.

Although known primarily as a writer, Wilson has extensive teaching experience at Southern California colleges and universities, including Cal State Fullerton, Santa Monica City College and UCLA Extension. He has also contributed art reviews and feature articles to Saturday Review, Art Forum, Art in America, Art News and Domus, among other magazines.

His tenure at The Times ended Thursday, but he will continue to contribute art reviews periodically.