Short Bio

William Bybee is a abstract painter from Idaho working in the world of Queer Abstraction.

Statement

. Abstract painting is at the heart of who I am as an artist. Through abstraction I can express who I am as an artist and as an individual. It allows me to bring life and color into a world that can be very monochrome and boring. Abstraction has given me a way to talk about subjects that matter to me, but not force my thoughts on a viewer that is not ready to receive this message. Through abstraction I explore the world of codes, codification, and the world of Queer Abstraction. Codification is the non-verbal communication that is at the heart of the queer world. It is through these signs that we recognize other queer people and signal to the world that we are queer too.   

Biography

William Bybee has an MFA from Idaho State University. Abstract painting is at the heart of who he is as an artist. Through abstraction he can express who he is as an artist and as an individual. It allows him to bring life and color into a world that can be very monochrome and boring. Abstraction has given him a way to talk about subjects that matter to him, but not force his thoughts on a viewer that is not ready to receive this message. Through abstraction Mr. Bybee explores the worlds of codes, codification, and the world of Queer Abstraction. Codification is the non-verbal communication that is at the heart of the queer world. It is through these signs that we recognize other queer people and signal to the world that we are queer too. The more you know about the codes and the society the more you will understand what is being said with those codes. Queer abstraction is the codification of the art, it is not always visible but remains unseen and hidden in plain sight. Artist like Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Robert Indiana, Ellsworth Kelly, and Felix Gonzalez-Torres have all used abstraction to talk about their queer identity and life.

Resume / CV

 
EDUCATION
  • Master of Fine Arts, Studio Art, Idaho State University 2021
  • Bachelor of Art, Painting, Idaho State University 2018
  • Associate of Applied Science Laser Electro/Optics Technology, Idaho State University 2009                                                         
EXHIBITIONS
Group Exhibitions
                2021
  • Annual Faculty Art Exhibition, John B. Davis Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID. (Invited)
  • Faculty Show, Rosenthal Gallery, College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID. (Invited)
  • Circle 2021, CICA Museum, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. (Juried)
  • Introducing Persian Culture to the west. The Land of Persepolis, Lewis-Clark State College Gallery, Lewiston, ID. (Invitation)
  • Skies, Art Room Gallery, www.artroomgalleryonline.com. (Juried)
  • We are Everywhere, Clay Clubhouse Gallery, Oakland, CA. (Juried)
  • SLC Queer, Urban Art Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT. (Juried)
  • Cities, Art Room Gallery, artroomgalleryonline.com. (Juried)
  • Off the Beaten Path, Pocatello Arts Council, online art gallery, https://www.pocatelloartscouncil.org/2021-call-to-artists. (Juried)
  • Purely Abstract 2021, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA. (Juried)
  • Abstract, Art Room Gallery, artroomgalleryonline.com. (Juried)
  • B&B, Eli Oboler Library Gallery, Eli Oboler Library, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID. (Two Person Show)
  • The Sky’s the Limit, Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna, CA. (Juried)
  • Yellowstone Art Auction 53, Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, MT. (Juried & Catalog)
2020
  • Faculty/Graduate Exhibition 2020, John B. Davis Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
  • Visibility, Compartment Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
  • 2020- Political Discord, Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna, CA. (Juried)
  • ABSTRACT my WORLD, Tall Sequoia Gallery, Toronto, Canada. (Juried)
  • Borders – What’s Up with That?  Romantso Gallery, Athens, Greece. (Juried)
  • Group Painting, Compartment Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
 
 
 
2019
 
  • Downtown Pocatello First Friday Art Walk, Station Square, Pocatello, ID.
  • Graduate Student Exhibition 2019, Davis Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
  • Visibility, Davis Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
 
2018
 
  • Black Rock and Sage Opening Reception, Student Union Building, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
  • Graduate Student Exhibition 2018, Davis Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
  • Idaho State Symphony, Stephens Performing Arts Center, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID. (Two Person Show)
  • Visibility, Compartment Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
 
 
2017
 
  • Fine Arts Club 2017, Davis Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
  • Undergraduate Art 2017, Davis Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID. (Juried)
  • Touch Stone, Compartment Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
  • Fine Arts Club Show and Sale, Compartment Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
  • Works in Metal, Oboler Library, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
  • New Year’s Eve Gala 2017, Stephens Performing Arts Center, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID. (Invitation)
 
 
2016
 
  • New Year’s Eve Gala 2016, Stephens Performing Arts Center, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
2015
 
  • Undergraduate Art Show 2015, Davis Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID. (Juried)
 
Solo Exhibitions
  • Queer…, MFA Thesis Exhibition, John B. Davis Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, 2021.
  • The Purple Moon, Lava Hot Springs, ID, 2018.
  • Polychromatic Experience, BA Thesis Exhibition, Compartment Gallery, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, 2018.
  • Downtown Pocatello First Friday Art Walk, Tasting Room, Pocatello, ID, 2018.
AWARDS
  • Gate Scholarship 2020
  • GTA Scholarship 2019
  • GALA Arts & Letters Scholarship 2019
  • GALA Arts & Letters Scholarship 2018
  • GALA Arts & Letters Scholarship 2017
  • Robbie Robinson Visual Art Scholarship 2017
 
Publications
  • Indietreasure Beautiful Idaho 2022 Calendar.
  • Queer Quarterly the Mind Issue (2), Issue 2, Summer 2021.
  • UN//TITLED, Balaclava.Q, Contemporary Queer Artist May 2021.
  • Humana Obscura, Issue 2, Spring/Summer 2021.
  • Black Rock and Sage, Volume 20, 2021.
  • The Bengal, Volume 46, “Queer Art: Talking with Bill Bybee,” Issue 24, 2021.
  • Balaclava.Q ~ Abstract Activism, The Visibility Show 2020, 11/12/2020. https://balaclavadotqabstractactivism.wordpress.com/2020/11/12/the-visibility-show/
  • Ode to Queer, Issue 1, Fall/Winter 2020.
  • Humana Obscura, Issue 1, Fall/Winter 2020.
  • Black Rock and Sage, Volume 19 2020.
  • Inspirational, Issue 34 and Issue 35 Borders – What’s Up with That?
  • The Bengal, Volume 45, “Graduate Art Exhibit”, Issue 3 2019.
  • Black Rock and Sage, Volume 17 2018.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
  • Adjunct Teaching, Department of Art, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho. Fall 2021.
  • Adjunct Teaching, Art Department, College of Idaho, Caldwell, Idaho. 2021-22. (ongoing)
  • Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA), Department of Art, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, 2019-2020.
COURSES TAUGHT
  • Introduction to Art (online 8 week)
  • Ways of Seeing
  • Drawing 1 (HyFlex both in person and online)
  • Introduction to Painting (HyFlex)
 
DEMONSTRATIONS
  • Fabric Block Printing Demonstration, Shire of Stonegate SCA, May 2019.
  • Drawing Demonstration, Art al Cart Fundraiser 2018.
  • Painting Demonstration, New Year’s Eve Gala 2017.
  • Drawing Demonstration, New Year’s Eve Gala 2016.
 
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
  • Idaho State University College of Business
  • Art Room Gallery
  • Las Laguna Art Gallery
  • Romantso Gallery
  • Tall Sequoia Gallery
  • Black Rock and Sage
  • Humana Obscura