We recently connected with William Atkinson and have shared our conversation below.

William , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I am a self-taught artist (I am not advocating being self-taught or professional training – this was just my path). Since I started in street art, I truly worked alone and at night. Everything I did was trial and error. There was a lot of experimentation and then self-assessment as to what worked or felt right. When street art started to gain traction, it offered feedback from a community, which was great.

As I started to show work in galleries. I had a very self-imposed rule about the materiality and tone of my work. I didn’t want people to think that I used street art to shortcut my career to gallery work. In pursuit of this, I only used found objects on the street and kept my creative language very similar to what I put on the street.

Eventually, I allowed myself the opportunity to create more intuitively in the fine art space. Painting and using large canvases was the biggest change in my craft and allowed my work to develop. If given the opportunity to go back in time, I would tell myself to let loose of the self-imposed stricture and create more freely. Don’t be afraid to try something new because of a fear of the unknown. I was my own biggest obstacle standing in my way and I feel that is a common theme amongst many artists.

William , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Contemporary artist William Atkinson has been creating art for over ten years. Working in his early years as a street artist under a pseudonym, Atkinson sought to use his distinctive blend of Abstract Expressionism, Street Art, and Graffiti Assemblage to anonymously create public discourse. The Dallas-raised painter has always been assertive in his socio-political expressions and encouraging of his viewers to engage in critical thought.

While his work naturally transitioned from street art to formal galleries, his art has remained loud and subversive, keeping true to his initial form of expression. Atkinson’s first gallery exhibitions incorporated found objects with imagery rooted in street art. Working publicly on the streets of Los Angeles, Atkinson was forced to create in a single expressive moment, a practice he continues in his current studio work making large scale compositions in one session. Atkinson does not revisit any of his pieces once the initial emotion has passed, ensuring he captures the energy of that single expressive moment. His work is created across multiple mediums with a consistent tone and voice echoing his early artistic roots. His minimalist color palette, combined with broad, assertive strokes captivate his audience, demanding attention without being brash. Meanwhile, text spatters each piece in compelling conjunctions and serves as coded commentary for viewers seeking elucidation.

Atkinson’s goal is for people to connect to his work, while continuing his passion for education. After starting his work in the arts, Atkinson founded and operated a gallery and artist incubator in Los Angeles, and later became operations director for two internationally-renowned galleries in New York. Today, Atkinson still believes that education is the key to success, and weaves it into his daily practice, including education and mentorship of artists, clients, and education of the marketplace to emerging art forms.

William Atkinson has been featured in several exhibitions in art capitals of the world including, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Vienna, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles and Miami. Atkinson is represented by Agora Gallery in New York City and Erin Cluley Gallery in Dallas, Texas. Atkinson works out of his studio based in Dallas, Texas where he lives with his wife and child.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Help keep art in the daily discussion of events and world events. If we keep the topic of art relevant and easy to access, people will be more inclined to make it part of their life.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Art is the only part of my life where I create, make, or do something solely based on emotional feeling in the moment. No matter how much we plan or strategize, sometimes the most beautiful and authentic creations come from trusting your emotions in the moment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rynham-art.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/william.atkinson.art/

Image Credits
William Atkinson