Wilde (1919-2006) was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and studied at the University of Wisconsin where he was influenced by American Surrealist artists such as Marshall Glasier (1902-1988) and Karl Priebe (1914-1976) as well as the Magic Realists including Jared French (1905-1988). He served in World War II, where he designed camouflage patterns, but during this time fell into a depression and used art as a creative outlet. After the war, he finished his Masters of Art degree at the University of Wisconsin, focusing on Max Ernst (1891-1976) and writing in defense of nonsense, wit and the irrational in art. His own artistic output furthered his interest in the surreal—many of his works play fancifully with scale, creating fantastical, humourous compositions.
Following the death of his first wife, Helen, in 1966, Wilde married Shirley Grilley, who is depicted in this lot and in many of his later surrealist nude works.
