Exhibition
Information
Billy
Dee Williams grew up in the Harlem section of New York
City with a family that nurtured artistic expression
in all forms. At the age of seven Billy Dee made his
acting debut on Broadway. During his student years he
attended the High School of Music and Art. He was awarded
the prestigious Hallgarten Award Scholarship to attend
the National Academy of Fine Arts and Design. In order
to earn money to buy paint and canvas Billy turned to
acting despite the strong protests of his art professors.
He quickly distinguished himself in the performing arts.
Today, he has acted in over 100 films and is immediately
recognized for his significant role as the dashingly
handsome
Lando
Calrission in the Star Wars epics EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
and RETURN OF THE JEDI. Billy has received critical
acclaim for his portrayal as the elegant romantic
lead in LADY SINGS THE BLUES and MAHOGANY with Diana
Ross. He has played pivotal roles in NIGHTHAWKS, BATMAN
and the BINGO LONG TRAVELING ALL STARS AND MOTOR KINGS.
He is recognized for his outstanding performances
on Broadway in FENCES and as Martin Luther King in
I HAD A DREAM. He was
nominated
for an Emmy for his work in the made for television
film, BRIAN’S SONG. Recently he appeared in a
significant guest role on television’s GIDEON’S
CROSSING. He can also be seen in the comedy LADY’S
MAN as well as in the compelling drama THE VISIT where
Billy’s superb performance was honored with the
NAACP’s Best Supporting Actor Award. Currently
he is working on a new film in Canada, UNDERCOVER
BROTHER.
Billy’s
painting has been a life-long pursuit. His paintings
of family and friends capture the essence of their
personalities and character. While working on the
Broadway stage, he reconnected with the art environment
of New York, which prompted him to embark upon a series
of remarkable new paintings. Music, philosophy, psychological
motif, love, interior landscape and history all became
subjects to explore. In a burst of artistic energy
Billy painted 120 works in two years. Billy’s
paintings are usually acrylic on canvas, applied with
brush and airbrush. He also works with collage elements
and has even created three-dimensional canvasses incorporating
ceramic, Lucite, and neon light. Billy’s paintings
are emotive and strong. He is a visual storyteller
where the rhythmic composition, perspective and bold
colors carry the message. His subject matter comes
from life, addressing universal themes that he presents
through his unique expressionistic figurative style
as an abstraction of reality.
Billy
has had many gallery exhibitions and much recognition
across the United States. His paintings are included
in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian National
Gallery, Washington DC, the Schomburg Center for Research
and Black Culture, New York, African American Museum,
New Orleans, the Museum of Jazz, Kansas City. Private
collectors include General Alexander Haig, Motown
Records founder
Berry
Gordy and saxophonist Kenny G. In addition, Billy
is the Honorary Chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute
which supports jazz education, and selects one of
his paintings every year for the cover of their concert
program. Billy has just completed painting a seven
foot sculpture of an angel for LA’s Community
of Angels’ Project created to raise funds at
auction for needed charities in the city. Billy’s
need for artistic expression has taken yet another
form. He has co-authored two novels, Psi/Net and Just
In Time with Rob MacGregor, published by Tom Doherty
Associates. Like his paintings, Billy’s accomplishments
transcend artistic and cultural boundaries; in recognition
he has been honored with the Diversity Award for lifetime
achievement and has just been nominated for the prestigious
and inspirational Prism Award.
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