William Zdan is an American who has worked out of Los Angeles, New York City and Nashville. Zdan’s work seeks to capture beauty while provoking contemplation. His paintings motivate introspection, fan philosophical bonfires, and comfort aesthetic sickness.
Raised in the manufacturing community of Detroit, Zdan often depicts modern industry and its effect on contemporary culture. Stylistically, he clashes those themes against classical techniques and introduces historical and religious iconography. Writer Rebecca Schoenkopf notes:
“William Zdan’s portraits are hellish: pretty breasts
and faces with scars, covered in gas masks and bees,
all in fiery reds and oranges. But the O.C. artist’s
still lifes are equally as lovely and unsettling as his
pierced, punk women. An oil derrick isn’t just an oil
derrick—it’s man’s phallic incursion into the earth,
withdrawing her oil, drying her up. His skies are
apocalyptic—is that a mushroom cloud, or just a
sunset through smog? Faces crawl with insects, a
less infuriating take on Damien Hirst. It’s ugly, but
it’s beautiful. There’s no vivisected cow here, just
degraded, marred, scarred beauty. Like life.”
(Riviera Magazine)
Born: Detroit, MI
Lives in: LA/NYC/Nashville
Education:
University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor
California State University, Fullerton
Painting Exhibitions:
2016 Last Rites Gallery, New York, NY “Thirteenth Hour” 10.29.16 – 11.12.16
2015 Gabba Gallery, Los Angeles, CA “Zodiac” 6.2.15 – 6.23.14
2014 Egan Gallery, Fullerton, CA “William Zdan’s Knacker’s Yard” 10.3.14 – 11.5.14
2014 La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA – (Featured Artist) “Humors” 6.6.14 – 6.29.14
2013 Kat Von D's Wonderland Gallery, Los Angeles, CA – “Skull show” 11.12 - 3.13
2012 Cannibal Flower 12th Anniversary (Featured Artist) 9.12
2012 Rothick Art Haus, Anaheim, CA “Cutter, Quitter Quicker” (feature artist) - 3.12
2011 London Miles Gallery, London, England “Pens & Needles“ - 2.25.11 - 3.7.11
2011 Hibbleton Gallery, Fullerton, CA “I Left My Heart In Detroit (w/ Niagara and William Zdan)” 2.4.11 – 2.27.11
2011 Promenade Gallery, Anaheim, CA “William Zdan and Dave Kooi” 12.11.10 – 1.2.11
2010 DAMNED III – Tangen Gallery, Detroit, MI – 10.28.10 – 10.31.10
2010 L.A. Municipal Art Gallery, Hollywood, CA “Beyond Eden” –10.8.10 – 10.9.10
2010 Graves Gallery, Fullerton CA “Piece Be With You – New Works By William Zdan” 7.2.10 – 7.30.10
2009 Hibbleton Gallery, Fullerton, CA “Digging For Fire – William Zdan and Chris Peters duet” 9.4.09 – 9.30.09
2009 ISM Gallery Long Beach CA/ Miami, FL/San Diego, CA (travelling exhibition) Sk8ology 3 month event
Selected publications/reviews/articles:
2014 HI FRUTOSE – Chris B. Murrary, Joel Nakamura, William Zdan, Jasmine Worth
2011 Riviera Magazine – “Oil on Canvas – William Zdan” - Rebecca Schoenkopf
2010 Orange County Register– “Zdan show criticizes big oil, raises Gulf money” – Adam Townsend
2010 Dash Literary Journal – “Interview with William Zdan” – Jesse La Tour
2009 OC Weekly - “It’s Getting Hot…Digging For Fire Exhibit Opens at Hibbleton” – Nate Jackson