William T. Wiley, Agent Orange, 1983, acrylic, graphite, ink and mixed media on canvas, 91 x 128 inches
Influential Northern California artist William T. Wiley passed away on April 25 in Greenbrae, CA. His combination of irreverence and spirituality so keenly reflected the spirit of our times, where we don’t know quite what to believe, but would all like to believe in something good. Like Wiley, many artists have worshipped at the altar of daily art practice, with a Zen-influenced mindfulness as their guide. Always a champion for the causes of social and environmental justice, and with an infectious, if occasionally groan-inducing, pun-intensive, sense of humor, Wiley was one of a kind.
