William Blake lives and works outside Chicago, IL. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he also holds a Masters of Fine Arts from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University. He is an Adjunct Faculty member at Harper College where he has taught Figure Drawing since 2020. His work has been published in Fine Art Connoisseur, New American Paintings, The Chicago Tribune, and American Art Collector. He has been a resident artist at the Berkshire Painting Residency, the Vermont Studio Center, the Cuttyhunk Island Residency, and the Lincoln Legacy Residency.
Fine Art Connoisseur
Realism Today
American Art Collector
Education
Temple University, 2018 M.F.A. Tyler School of Art
University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, 2014 B.F.A.
Glasgow School of Art, 2013
Florence Academy of Art, 2012
Solo Exhibitions
2022 Distant Drum, Lewis University’s Wadsworth Gallery, Romeoville, IL
2022 A Great Battlefield, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL
2018 A Grand Review, Tyler School of Art Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2015 William Blake: Patinas from the American Civil War, Hinsdale Public Library, Hinsdale, IL
Two- Person Exhibitions
2020 Mine Eyes, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL
2016 Continental Divide, Sidetracked Studio, Evanston, IL
2014 Between the States, Figure One, Champaign, IL
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 Making Our History, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, Springfield, IL
2020 Faculty Exhibition, Harper College, Palatine, IL
2017 All of Us Curated by Eric Preisendanz, Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
2017 Ocotillo Curated by Jonathan DeDecker, Stella Elkins Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2016 New American Paintings: Midwest Edition, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
2015 I Can’t Breathe, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL
2015 Wall to Wall, Art Space 1550, Chicago, IL
2014 BFA Exhibition, Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, IL
2014 Figuration, Indi Go Gallery, Champaign, IL
2013 Upside Down, Left to Right, Figure One, Champaign, IL
Publications
2022 “A Great Battlefield: Exhibition Catalog,” Gallery Victor, September
2020 “William Blake & Beth Foley: Mine Eyes have Seen the Glory,” American Art Collector, March
2019 Allison Malafronte, “Three to Watch,” Fine Art Connoisseur, March/April
2015 New American Paintings #119
2015 ARTISTADAY, Top 10 Artists in Illinois
2015 Sara Clarkson, "Hinsdale Native Shows Civil War in Artwork," Chicago Tribune, March
2014 Artists to Look Out For Volume 1, Starry Night Programs, August
2014 Melissa Merli, "Studio Visit: William Blake," The News-Gazette, April
2014 Melissa Ibeñez, "Get Between the States," Smile Politely, April
Residencies and Fellowships
2022 Lincoln Legacy Residency
2021 Cuttyhunk Island Artist Residency
2015 Vermont Studio Center, Wolf Kahn Fellowship
2014 Berkshire Painting Residency
Artist Talks
2023 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
2022 Lewis University, Romeoville, IL with Mark Swain
2020 Victor Armendariz Gallery, Chicago IL with Paul Durica
2015 Sidetrack Studios, Evanston IL
2015 St. Isaac Jogues School, Hinsdale IL
2014 Sam Rotolo Middle School, Batavia IL
2014 Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale IL
2014 Figure One, Champaign IL
Teaching
Harper College, Palatine, IL
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University, Philadelphia PA
Gallery Representation
See work in person at Gallery Victor Armendariz
300 W Superior St, Chicago, IL 60654