3/27/2023 Kim O'Brien

Memorial Celebration: Bill Hutson's Life and Art

The Franklin & Marshall College community will celebrate the life and art of the late Bill Hutson at a memorial event to be held April 1 at 1 p.m. at the Winter Arts Visual Center

An internationally respected painter, Hutson was the Jennie Brown Cook and Betsy Hess Cook distinguished artist-in-residence and associate professor emeritus in the Department of Art, Art History and Film at F&M.

Hutson was a professor of painting at F&M for more than 20 years. He passed away from a long illness Sept. 21, 2022. 

Hutson’s wide-ranging travels and long-standing relationships with other prominent contemporary artists informed his abstracted style, “giving the viewer an opportunity to contemplate a deeper interpretation of the paintings,” said Lindsay Marino, director of the Phillips Museum of Art

  • Bill Hutson. Descending/Ascending, 2002. Acrylic and thread on canvas, 78 1/2 x 81". EC234. Bill Hutson. Descending/Ascending, 2002. Acrylic and thread on canvas, 78 1/2 x 81". EC234.
  • Bill Hutson (American, 1936–2022). Found and Painted Objects. Paris and Lancaster, 1996–1997. Acrylic on wood. EC243. Bill Hutson (American, 1936–2022). Found and Painted Objects. Paris and Lancaster, 1996–1997. Acrylic on wood. EC243.
  • Bill Hutson. Oba II (The Oba’s Room), Lancaster, 1995–1996. Acrylic on canvas, 40 3/8 x 39 7/8 x 3 1/8". EC214. Bill Hutson. Oba II (The Oba’s Room), Lancaster, 1995–1996. Acrylic on canvas, 40 3/8 x 39 7/8 x 3 1/8". EC214.
  • Bill Hutson. Summer Winds, New York City, 1980. Acrylic on paper, 28 7/8 x 36 5/8". EC816. Bill Hutson. Summer Winds, New York City, 1980. Acrylic on paper, 28 7/8 x 36 5/8". EC816.
  • Bill Hutson. Tactile Series #10, Lancaster, 1998. Acrylic on canvas and wood, 9 x 14 x 6 5/8". EC189. Bill Hutson. Tactile Series #10, Lancaster, 1998. Acrylic on canvas and wood, 9 x 14 x 6 5/8". EC189.
  • Bill Hutson. The Rain Season, New York City, 1978. Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 18". EC823. Bill Hutson. The Rain Season, New York City, 1978. Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 18". EC823.
  • Bill Hutson (American, 1936–2022). Hutson Creating Painting, 1991. Digital print, 5 x 7". EC1549. Bill Hutson (American, 1936–2022). Hutson Creating Painting, 1991. Digital print, 5 x 7". EC1549.

Hutson enjoyed more than 20 solo exhibitions as an artist, including a recent citywide exhibition in his hometown of San Marcos, Texas.

When previously asked if he regarded his art as "work," Hutson responded, "It's not work, it's more like prayer – not in a religious sense, but in a meditative sense. It's about the exploration that rises out of that meditation." 

Coinciding with the memorial celebration is the exhibition Color, Symbols, and Texture: The Artwork of Bill Hutson, on display at the Phillips Museum through April 27. The exhibit is drawn from a generous gift of art bestowed by Hutson in 2010. Hutson also gifted his collection of the art of many significant African American artists and related materials amassed over 50 years, now housed at Shadek-Fackenthal Library. 

  • “My art, if you look at it closely, is about closeness," Hutson says. "It’s about differences between light and dark and middle and what happens to it as time passes.” “My art, if you look at it closely, is about closeness," Hutson says. "It’s about differences between light and dark and middle and what happens to it as time passes.” Image Credit: Deb Grove
  • "[H]e studied art from my culture, Haitian art, which is not something you see every day," Sebastien Charles '25 said of Hutson. "Listening to him complimenting my home country and only speak good about our art really hit home for me. The art in the museum of his collections made me believe in the abilities of black artists even more and led me to take an art class in the coming years.” "[H]e studied art from my culture, Haitian art, which is not something you see every day," Sebastien Charles '25 said of Hutson. "Listening to him complimenting my home country and only speak good about our art really hit home for me. The art in the museum of his collections made me believe in the abilities of black artists even more and led me to take an art class in the coming years.” Image Credit: Deb Grove
  • The late Bill Hutson speaks with students in 2021 at the Phillips Museum of Art. The late Bill Hutson speaks with students in 2021 at the Phillips Museum of Art. Image Credit: Deb Grove

Hutson Gives Historic Gift of Art

One of the largest and most significant gifts in the College’s history, the collection contains more than 300 items, including numerous pieces of Hutson’s own work and artwork by other noted African American contemporary artists.

Read More

Color, Symbols, and Texture: The Artwork of Bill Hutson

Spring exhibitions at the Phillips Museum of Art are on display through April 27. The museum’s hours are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

View Art
Story 5/25/2023

Liberal Arts is the Future of Work

Liberal arts colleges and educational leaders from around the country will gather at F&M June 1-3...

Read More
Story 5/23/2023

'97 Alum Reconnects with A Cappella Roots

Music producer Ed Chung '97 returned to campus in April to record and produce an album with The...

Read More
Story 5/22/2023

Women's Lacrosse Rolls into Final Four

The Franklin & Marshall women's lacrosse team is headed back to the Final Four for the 12th time in...

Read More