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Sereno "Glitterman" Wilson, "Agoueta Royo," Glitter on canvas, 20 x 16 inches
Born in 1979 in Germany, Sereno Wilson relocated to Chicago during his formative years. Engaging as a working artist at Gallery 37, a youth arts training program, he honed his craft while showcasing his burgeoning talent. Wilson's adeptness with paint laid the foundation for his distinct style and artistic process. Initially focused on painting upon joining Project Onward, a non-profit that provides artists with disabilities the opportunity to create their work in a safe, supportive studio environment, he gradually integrated glitter and other mixed media into his repertoire.
As time progressed, Wilson's focus shifted increasingly towards glitter, facilitated by the studio's diverse glitter color offerings. This evolution culminated in an almost exclusive adoption of glitter-composition as his signature style. Utilizing glue as his medium, he crafts vibrant portraits of celebrities, fellow artists, commissioned subjects, and symbols of luck, reflecting his optimistic outlook on fate and fortune. In recent works, Wilson has begun reincorporating elements of acrylic painting. Notably, in 2019, his solo exhibition, "Haitian Symbols and Spirits," was showcased at the Haitian Museum in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood.
Wilson's caricatured depictions of hip-hop artists, actresses, studio visitors, and his fascination with symbols like four-leaf clovers, dollar signs, and prime numbers, coupled with his glitter-bling aesthetic, have garnered him immense popularity at Project Onward. A member since 2009, Wilson currently resides in Albany Park, Chicago.