Calendar

Exhibition

Presented by SVA Galleries

Wilde Mind

November 3 - December 9, 2023
A Life in Fragments
Collage of Richard Wilde from the eyes upward, showing images and ideas vertically exploding from his forehead.
Credit: Richard Wilde

SVA Chelsea Gallery

601 West 26th Street, 15th floor, New York, NY 10001

Reception

Thu, Nov 2; 6:00 - 8:00pm

School of Visual Arts presents "Wilde Mind," an exhibition celebrating Richard Wilde’s life, singular SVA career, and legacy. Wilde served as the inaugural chair of the College's BFA Advertising and BFA Design programs, retiring in 2019 after a 50-year tenure. The exhibition will be on view from Friday, November 3, through Saturday, December 9, at the SVA Chelsea Gallery, 601 West 26th Street, 15th floor, New York City.


The SVA Chelsea Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am to 6:00pm and closed on Sundays. It is fully accessible by wheelchair. The gallery will be closed for Thanksgiving break beginning at 1:00pm on Wednesday, November 22, through Sunday, November 26, 2023.

The initial view upon entering the SVA Chelsea Gallery is of a colorful ticketbooth and a large photo of Richard Wilde, leading toward an imitation of the Coney Island boardwalk.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

Photos of Wilde as a child and of his parents cover a red wall along the boardwalk. A jukebox sits next to them.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

Across the boardwalk, Coney Island booths are covered in bold signs reading “BULLSEYE”, “PLAY TILL U WIN”, and other carnival game slogans.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

This booth is covered with signs advertising carnival food, such as frozen custard and french fries. Inside the booth, a monitor displays footage of people visiting Coney Island in the 1950s.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

Against a red wall, there is a backdrop image of Coney Island and carnival items, like a wooden motorcycle. In the center of the space, many small objects are encased in a large vitrine over a table, with an image of a Steeplechase Park ticket appearing on the wall behind it.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

Looking from the opposite side of the vitrine table, one sees the Coney Island backdrop, as well as a blue wall featuring pictures of a teenage Richard Wilde, with a miniature horse slide sitting in front of it.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

In another view of this same gallery, baseball-themed posters hang on a wall behind a bicycle.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

A Coney Island roller coaster seat sits in front of a large image of a Steeplechase Park ticket.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

In the next room, a wall full of bright green cube shelves house many of Wilde’s small collectibles. More collected items sit on another vitrine table in the center of the room.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

In the vitrine, items like brass doorknobs and vintage rulers are visible. Vinyl images of other collected items cover the surrounding walls.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

Behind a second table full of items sit vertical shelves full of collectibles. The room is filled with Wilde’s personal collections.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

Along a yellow wall, vitrines holding more items sit in front of pictures of Wilde as a young adult with his wife, Judith Wilde, and their child.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

In the next room, the wall and floors are completely covered with vinyl depicting work by many of Wilde’s students from over his years of teaching.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

Images of student work cover the left wall and floor. To the right, a poster featuring many different styles of hats hangs on a yellow wall.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

Leading from one gallery space into another, monitors line the walls. The monitors play clips of Wilde speaking about his practice, display his students’ work, and show some of his own work.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

Several of Wilde’s advertising campaigns hang on a red wall in the furthest gallery space.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

More of Wilde’s advertising and design work hangs on a red wall.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

On a yellow wall, a monitor plays a video of Wilde speaking. Surrounding the monitor are tall stacks of the different books Wilde has designed, as well as a bench made up of these books.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

A blue wall shows images of sunsets Wilde has photographed.

“Wilde Mind,” SVA Chelsea Gallery, November 3 – December 9, 2023

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Free and open to the public