William Blake (b. 1991, Oshkosh, WI), lives and works outside Chicago, IL. Drawing from the narratives of the American Civil War, Blake’s work uses 19th-century painting and reenactment to explore how history is remembered, mythologized, and retold.
He holds an MFA from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University and a BFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Blake’s work has been exhibited at Gallery Victor, Chicago, and The Lincoln Presidential Library, Springfield, among others. His paintings are included in private collections across the United States. He has participated in residencies at the Vermont Studio Center, Kent County Alliance Residency, Cuttyhunk Island Residency, and the Lincoln Legacy Residency.
Blake’s works have been featured in publications such as Fine Art Connoisseur, New American Paintings, and American Art Collector. He is an Adjunct Faculty member at Harper College, where he has taught Figure Drawing since 2020.
Education
Temple University, M.F.A. Tyler School of Art
University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, B.F.A.
Solo Exhibitions
2024 Lincolns, Gallery Victor, Chicago, IL
2022 Distant Drum, Lewis University’s Wadsworth Gallery, Romeoville, IL
2022 A Great Battlefield, Gallery Victor, Chicago, IL
2018 A Grand Review, Temple Contemporary, Philadelphia, PA
2015 William Blake: Patinas from the American Civil War, Hinsdale Public Library, Hinsdale, IL
Two- Person Exhibitions
2020 Mine Eyes, Gallery Victor, Chicago, IL
2016 Continental Divide, Sidetracked Studio, Evanston, IL
2014 Between the States, Figure One, Champaign, IL
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 Rivers, Kent Cultural Alliance, Chestertown, MD
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 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
2022 “Civil War Art: Re-Enactments From an Artist’s Perspective,” Realism Today
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 Jessie Zechnowitz,"Craftivist Revisions: Reenactment on the Battlegrounds of Contemporary Art," eastbayart
2015 ARTISTADAY, Top 10 Artists in Illinois
2015 Sara Clarkson, "Hinsdale Native Shows Civil War in Artwork," Chicago Tribune, March
2014 Melissa Merli, "Studio Visit: William Blake," The News-Gazette, April
2014 Melissa Ibeñez, "Get Between the States," Smile Politely, April
Residencies and Fellowships
2024 Kent Cultural Alliance Residency
2022 Lincoln Legacy Residency
2021 Cuttyhunk Island Artist Residency
2015 Vermont Studio Center, Wolf Kahn Fellowship
2014 Berkshire Painting Residency
Artist Talks
2024 Kent Cultural Alliance, Chestertown MD
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
300 W Superior St, Chicago, IL 60654