Ernest Wilson

Ernest (Ernie) Wilson was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1933, the son of George Ernest Wilson and Ruth Frances Temple. For over twenty years, he worked as the Art Director for Pollard Banknote Limited, while pursuing his personal artistic practice in his spare time.

Wilson's artistic talents extended beyond painting to include photography and design. In 1972, he achieved notable recognition when he won a competition to design a crest for the City of Winnipeg. His winning geometric design featured the fork of two rivers intertwined with the letter W, demonstrating his skill in graphic design alongside his fine art practice.

Despite his evident talent, Wilson's work remained relatively unknown during his lifetime and in the decades following his death. His artistic style included surrealist elements, as seen in his 1974 painting "The Hysteria of a Sunny Day," which depicts a wild-eyed carousel horse loose in a prairie field. Though little documentation of his work exists, those familiar with his paintings describe him as "an outstanding painter" whose work left a lasting impression on those who encountered it.

Outside of his artistic endeavors, Wilson enjoyed fishing at his cabin on Lake of the Woods. He died unmarried while on vacation in Grand Centre, Alberta on December 30, 1987, and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Winnipeg beside his father. It wasn't until 2024, nearly four decades after his death, that the first major exhibition of his work was mounted, showcasing his paintings and works on paper that had been collected from various sources, including donations from his family.