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Abstract
Artist talk by William J. Simpson
Description
Artist Statement
Absurdity and irreverence, pastiche and satire, consumerism and community. These concepts are the fundamental core of the illustrations created by William Simpson. He takes inspiration from the consumer visual culture of the late twentieth century to create a window into the time that invokes the absurdity and self referential humor of the broadcast programming of the time. His biggest inspirations come from the “bumpers” made by the Adult Swim network, which helped shape entire entertainment based subcultures that continue in popularity to this day. A sense of community from the act of consuming product and media, a cultural phenomenon that is so prevalent amongst humanity but not often truly thought about. The idea that society exists solely to consume and in turn be consumed like the mythical ouroboros, our materialistic hungers reflected in each other. A dystopia to some, the eventual and expected outcome for others. But we will all be in it together regardless, a true connected community.
Department
Art
Date
Spring 2026
Disciplines
Art and Design
Recommended Citation
Simpson, William J., "William J. Simpson Artist Talk" (2026). 2026 BFA Artist Talks. 14.
https://dc.ewu.edu/bfa_artist_talks_2026/14
