Wilson earned a B.F.A. at Illinois Wesleyan University School of Drama (1975) where he studied under Edward Pisoni, an M.A. at San Francisco State University (1979) where he studied under Eric Sinkkonen, and completed an M.F.A. at Carnegie-Mellon University School of Drama (1982) where he studied under Oren Parker and Lynn Pektal. Wilson is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829 and was an Assistant Professor for 9 years at Stanford University before joining the faculty of the Theatre Arts Department at San Francisco State University where he taught for 23 years. He retired as a Professor Emeritus in 2020, and lives in San Francisco with his partner and husband of 35 years.

Wilson’s extensive San Francisco Bay Area credits include scenic designs for American Conservatory Theatre, Theatreworks, The American Musical Theatre of San Jose, San Jose Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Magic Theatre, Marin Theatre Company, Aurora Theatre, both San Francisco and California Shakespeare Festivals, Artists Confronting AIDS, San Francisco Opera Center, the original Eureka Theatre, and others.

Nationally, Wilson’s design work extends to New York City, Chicago, Washington D. C., Los Angeles, Houston, Princeton, Newark, Buffalo, Malibu, Louisville, and Wichita. Wilson is the recipient of numerous awards, including ten Bay Area Critics Circle awards and five Hollywood Drama-Logue Awards, the Theatre L.A. Ovation Award, the Garland Award, and the Barbara Bladen Porter Award for Continued Creative Excellence.

Congratulations on a wonderful career, John!