William Buchanan

Born in Oneida, Arkansas, and now based in the Atlanta area, William Buchanan is a painter and educator whose work is deeply informed by surrealism and a lifelong connection to the natural world. His paintings often blur the boundaries between realism and imagination, inviting viewers into dreamlike spaces where memory, symbolism, and landscape converge.

William pursued his formal training at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, and LeMoyne College in Memphis, Tennessee, and later expanded his artistic foundation through studies in painting, drawing, and design at The Peninsula School of Art in Door County, Wisconsin, an extension of the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. These formative experiences helped shape a practice grounded in technical discipline while remaining open to exploration and intuitive expression.

His work has been featured in numerous selected group exhibitions across the United States, establishing a strong presence within museums, universities, and cultural institutions. William’s exhibitions include the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia; City Gallery East in Atlanta as part of Homecoming: 20th Century African American Masters; the National Black Fine Art Show in New York; and notable venues such as the Hammonds House Museum and Resource Center, Atlanta Life Insurance Company, the Apex Museum, and Moorehead-Graham Fine Art Gallery at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. His work has also reached audiences nationwide through exhibitions in California, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.

In addition to these national presentations, William has participated in significant themed and juried exhibitions including Depth of Meaning, an international juried exhibition at Caladan Gallery in Boston; United States of America 250th: University Reflecting the Black Experience with the National Alliance of Artists from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (NAAHBCU); and Ukombozi: The Intersection of Art, Activism, and Wellness (2025). His continued involvement with the Hambidge Center through exhibitions and auctions further reflects his engagement with the broader contemporary art community.

Nature remains a central force in William’s work, serving both as subject and metaphor. Through a surrealist lens, organic forms, landscapes, and symbolic elements are transformed into visual narratives that explore perception, identity, and inner experience. His work has earned multiple honors, including a Hambidge Center Fellowship and First Prize in Painting at the 10th Annual National African American Exhibition hosted by Atlanta Life Insurance Company. He is a member of NAAHBCU.

Beyond the studio, William is committed to nurturing emerging artists. He currently teaches private painting and drawing classes to young students and reviews portfolios for art students seeking acceptance into the Governor’s Honors Program at Georgia Southern University, continuing his legacy as both an artist and mentor.