William Copley (artist)

William Copley, also known as CPLY, (January 24, 1919 – May 7, 1996) was an American painter, associated with Surrealism, Pop Art, and Outsider Art, although he defied easy categorization.

Born in New York City, Copley was adopted by Ira and Edith Vandewater and raised in wealth and privilege. He spent time in Paris in the late 1930s and early 1940s, where he encountered the Surrealist movement, an influence that remained with him throughout his career. He initially ran a gallery in Beverly Hills, California, showcasing Surrealist works, before turning his attention to painting himself.

Copley's distinctive style featured simplified figures, often cartoonish and sexually suggestive, rendered in a flat, graphic manner. His subject matter was frequently drawn from popular culture, Americana, and personal experiences. Recurring motifs included the American flag, vaudeville performers, and scenes of domestic life, often with a subversive or humorous edge.

While his work shares certain affinities with Pop Art due to its use of popular imagery, Copley's engagement with the subconscious and his often deliberately crude or naive style distinguished him from the more polished aesthetic of mainstream Pop. His work also resonates with Outsider Art due to its idiosyncratic vision and rejection of traditional artistic conventions.

Despite critical appreciation and a significant following, Copley's work was sometimes met with controversy due to its explicit content. He exhibited extensively in Europe and the United States, and his paintings are included in the collections of major museums worldwide. He died in Key West, Florida.