Robert Wilson is an American experimental theatre director and playwright, also known for his work as a set designer, choreographer, lighting and video artist, sculptor, and sound designer.
Wilson is celebrated primarily in Europe as an avant-garde artist and arguably the most renowned surrealist master. A winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale and the Europe Theatre Prize, he is particularly famous for his collaboration with Philip Glass and Lucinda Childs on Einstein on the Beach, which brought its creators and performers worldwide acclaim, as well as for his frequent joint projects with Tom Waits.
In 1968, Wilson founded the experimental theatre company Byrd Hoffman School of Byrds (named after a teacher who helped him overcome his childhood stuttering). In 1991, he established The Watermill Center, a "performance laboratory", while regularly collaborating with opera and theatre companies as well as festivals.
Beyond theatre, Wilson has engaged in sculpture, drawing, and furniture design. In 2011, he designed an art park in Helsinki dedicated to Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala.
Wilson’s productions are distinguished by his signature lighting, which often expands the boundaries of stage space, a meticulous focus on movement as a key dramatic element, and a rigorously stylized aesthetic.
Photo: © Julien Mignot for The New York Times
Wilson is celebrated primarily in Europe as an avant-garde artist and arguably the most renowned surrealist master. A winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale and the Europe Theatre Prize, he is particularly famous for his collaboration with Philip Glass and Lucinda Childs on Einstein on the Beach, which brought its creators and performers worldwide acclaim, as well as for his frequent joint projects with Tom Waits.
In 1968, Wilson founded the experimental theatre company Byrd Hoffman School of Byrds (named after a teacher who helped him overcome his childhood stuttering). In 1991, he established The Watermill Center, a "performance laboratory", while regularly collaborating with opera and theatre companies as well as festivals.
Beyond theatre, Wilson has engaged in sculpture, drawing, and furniture design. In 2011, he designed an art park in Helsinki dedicated to Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala.
Wilson’s productions are distinguished by his signature lighting, which often expands the boundaries of stage space, a meticulous focus on movement as a key dramatic element, and a rigorously stylized aesthetic.
Photo: © Julien Mignot for The New York Times
