William Quigley graduated from the Philadelphia College of Art in 1984 with a BFA. While at Philadelphia College of Art, he also studied sculpture, painting and printmaking abroad at Tyler School of Art in Italy from 1982–83.
William Quigley has over 475 collectors of his artwork. In June 1985, before entering Columbia University, Quigley had his first show with Andy Warhol in Philadelphia at Henry S. McNeil’s Gallery in Warhol’s “Images of a Child’s World” exhibition. Through McNeil, Quigley began his early career by exhibiting in group shows with artists such as Julian Schnabel and Jean Michel Basquiat.[1]
While participating in the ARTLA Fair in December 1992–93, Quigley met Art Basel founder Ernst Beyeler and Spanish art dealers Ferran and Marisa Cano.[2] They offered Quigley the opportunity to paint for eight months in Mallorca in June 1992 and show on the property of Joan Miró's studio. During this period, Quigley made 44 works for the gallery.
After returning to Los Angeles, he opened the art gallery Mayb, which became the AB Gallery in 1994. In 1998 and 1999, Quigley traveled to India and made a series of works. In 1999, he set up a second studio in SoHo, New York. Quigley’s move to New York sparked a period of working with bands such as Dispatch and Pete Francis. He created albums and stages and developed a company called “Skrapper” with Francis.
While trying to make a living in Los Angeles, Quigley turned to film, commercials and music videos. He worked as an art director and set designer on the sets of directors such as David Fincher, Gregory Dark and Dick George. He was involved in films such as Punch the Clock and Dark Side of Genius, and music videos such as Madonna's "Oh Father", "Express Yourself" and "Like a Prayer". Quigley’s work has been collected by over 450 people worldwide. Portraits of influential figures such as President Bill Clinton and athlete Shaquille O’Neal are some of his most prominent works.
Works
The Boxer Series
In 1999, downtown New York artist William Quigley was commissioned to create a "no contemporary" fighter painting for a friend. The Boxer Series is a work in progress that investigates the impact of the boxing fighter since its birth in the late 1800s. Consisting of portraits, traditional boxing poses, head-to-head battles, and knockdown.
Civil War Show
This show consisted of 16 paintings, one carved sculpture of a 15-year-old black Union soldier, and a 40-page hand-painted book visually illustrating an interplanetary diary of the War. As the series developed, the theme was later developed to focus on freedom and Black culture.
The Civil War Book
The Civil War Book was the fourth book written by William Quigley. Originally intended to be a sketch pad for ideas and information about the American Civil War, it later became a complement to the Civil War paintings and was shown at the Lawrence Gallery in 1996. The book's design incorporates war documentation, random notes, photos and battlefield tales.
Bibliography
Andy Warhol: at McNeil Gallery/Fledging new artist William Quigley, Philadelphia Inquirer, June 1985
Sculptured Skywriting and Mythic Photography, Victoria Donohoe, Page C03, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 20, 1985
New Art, Phillip Dash, Details Magazine, May 1991
Dark Side of Genius, Filmmaker Magazine, 1993
William Quigley: del expresimo a la tradition, Maria J.Bonafe, Ultima Hora, Mallorca, Spain, October 21, 1993
William Quigley: at Ferran Cano, El Pais, Television Guide, Madrid, Spain, October 1993
Trebals de Mallorca: William Quigley, Juan Gacra Sevilla, El Diario De Mallorca, October 1993
Thin on Attitude, Susan Kandell, Los Angeles Times, February 1994
AB Gallery Opens Moves and Changes (feature Galley Guide) New York, LA, 1994
I want to Touch Life, Pankaj Tuli, Hindustan Times, Delhi India, October 1998
A survey of Paintings (published in Delhi by American Artist) The Times of India, Arts section, November 1998
Quigley Hangs in My House, Michael Allante, Vanity Fair, March 1999
Fame Brushes, Ryan D'Agostino, New York Observer, September 2002
How to Spend a Million Dollars, Ryan D'Agostino, MBA Jungle, October 2002
New Light Gallery, Anne Jennings, Virginia, September 2000
Its Time For My Closeup Mr. Quigley, Amanda Von Poggense, Zink Magazine, September 2004
Side Dish, Joanna Molloy, NY Daily News, May 25, 2004
Fame Brushes, Joanna Molloy, NY Daily News, June 1, 2004
Page Six, Richard Johnson, NY Post, June 2, 2004
Page Six, Richard Johnson, NY Post, June 15, 2004
Now Served: a course in Restaurants Cater to Art, Joe Dziemianowicz, NY Daily News, Sept 15, 2004
Jasper, Joanna Molloy, NY Daily News, August 10, 2004
Selected permanent collections
Andy Warhol Estate, New York, NY
Beyeler Foundation, Basel, Switzerland
Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, PA
Keith Haring Estate, New York, NY
Galleria Ferran Cano Foundation, Mallorca, Spain
Conejo Valley Museum, Santa Barbara, CA
Douglas Cramer Collection, Santa Ynez Valley, CA
Bradford Mill Wheelhouse, Concord, MA
MOCA, Los Angeles, CA
Muhammad Ali Foundation, Louisville, KY
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Scottsdale Contemporary Museum of Art, Scottsdale, AZ
William DeKooning Estate, East Hampton, NY
Manny Silverman Collection, Los Angeles, CA
Beal Related, Boston, MA
Henry McNeil Collection, Fort Washington, PA
Individual exhibitions
2019 SCOPE MIAMI, AB Gallery NY, December 2019, Miami, FL
ART MARKET HAMPTONS, AB Gallery NY, July 3–7, Bridgehampton, NY
SKRAPSTRACTIONS, AB Gallery NY, August 15-Sept 9, East Hampton, NY
2018 VIA EASTHAMPTON, Skrapper Studio, July East Hampton, NY
NEW PRINTS, Benefit for Concord Cancer Center, May, Chadds Ford, PA
