Artist Spotlight on Arstanda “Billy” White

If you’ve ever happened to visit our studio while the artists are working, there’s a good chance you’ve met Arstanda White, better known as “Billy.” In fact, he may have even drawn your portrait on request and let you walk away with the memory.

Billy has been working at NIAD since 1994 and his personality lives large in the studio. He’s a charming storyteller and his sense of humor lifts the spirits of those around him on a daily basis. Some of his one-liners are legendary.

Over the last 17 years Billy’s artwork has garnered a long list of admirers who appreciate it’s direct simplicity, symbolism and raw expression. Painting and drawing are his preferred mediums, but he’s also brought his figures to life in clay. His typical subject matter falls into one of two categories, either narratives about his life or portraits of people he admires, which include movie stars, hip-hop artists and television actors just to name a few.

Like many of our artists, Billy’s life has been filled with adversity, but he’s managed to persevere and work hard at what he loves. Art is something he lives and does continuously. Every morning he arrives and pulls a fist-full of drawings out of his backpack that he completed the night before. He’ll then sort through them to determine his creative direction for the day, which can change like the wind.

If Billy’s working on a painting, it can easily morph into something altogether different. He might start off painting Bill Cosby, but quickly change is mind by lunch. When that happens, he simply works right on top and doesn’t erase what came before. The new work becomes an extension of the old. By the end of the day this could happen several times and what’s often left is a latticework of figures and stories with interchangeable meanings. It’s what makes his artwork so unique.

One of his favorite subjects and constant source of inspiration is the great artist Van Gogh. It’s not clear what he specifically draws upon in the Dutch artist’s work, but the legend’s life story seems to resonate with Billy. He’ll often paint portraits of admiration with Van Gogh wearing a yellow hat and sporting a goatee.

Billy’s portraits tend be his most powerful work. Simple brushstrokes around the eyes and mouth can carry great emotional weight. They’ve connected with viewers in NIAD’s exhibitions, throughout the Bay Area and beyond. His work is even included in the Achenbach Graphic Arts Collection, which is part of the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco.

We look forward to seeing his work evolve and attract new audiences.