William Okaily
Mount Royal school of art multidisciplinary mfa
Maryland institute college of art
Specialisms: Fine Art / Painting / Art Direction
Location: Richmond, United States
William Okaily
First Name: William
Last Name: Okaily
Specialisms: Fine Art / Painting / Art Direction
Sectors:
My Location: Richmond, United States
University / College: Maryland institute college of art
Course / Program Title: Mount Royal school of art multidisciplinary mfa
About
I offer a visual symphony where each artwork is a distinct melody within a larger harmonic framework. The common formal themes—the vibrato of the line, the polyphony of textures, the deliberate arrangement of space, and a color palette that shifts from the delicate whispers of woodwinds to the bold fortissimos of trumpets—compose the elaborate orchestral arrangement of my practice. Each piece emerges as a haptic concerto, deeply anchored in the concrete reality of its medium, engaging in a sensory exploration that echoes with both spiritual transportation and audible presence.
I approach my artistic practice as an act of optimism, rooted in the belief that abstraction unveils the nuanced beauty of our world. Each artwork invites pause and reflection, encouraging appreciation of the grandeur in the granular. Like a musician meticulously molding complex harmonies into a singular, sonorous note, I distill visual complexities into their essence, transforming each piece into a meditative experience. Experimentation with structure versus organic freeness fosters a dialogue between my control and the paint's inherent agency, enhancing each painting's dual nature as both image and object. This methodical reduction prompts me to step away from 'seeing the bigger picture' only to reconnect with it through the most delicate and intricate strokes.
I engage with painting in a traditional and disruptive manner. Each piece embarks on a journey, exploring the realms of sculpture, installation, and performance before returning to the canvas—renewed and enriched. This cross-pollination extends beyond the visual arts, drawing from the rich reservoirs of literature, philosophy, and history. These disciplines enrich the narrative depth, deepen the conceptual inquiries, and contextualize the themes of my work, collectively challenging and expanding my experimental boundaries. The fusion of diverse intellectual traditions propels my artistic endeavors and enables a continual reinvention of my expressive vocabulary, ensuring that each creation resonates with contemporary and timeless dialogues.
This installation revolves around a transformative journey, starting with a painting that opened a portal between Beirut and Baltimore. Each artifact that passes through this portal carries the essence of Lebanese origins into a dramatically different American context. These pieces are not merely displayed; they undergo questioning and recontextualization and often find themselves morphed beyond their original identities. "Why Did You Bring Me Here?" -this question is posed by each artifact, challenging the reasons and consequences of moving cultural symbols to an unfamiliar landscape.
Competitions
Global Creative Graduate Showcase 2024
Gouache and gesso on canvas 70’’x58’'