William Burton, Jr. is one of the most versatile visual artists from St. Louis. Working in a variety of mediums, he specializes in (but not limited to) murals, canvas paintings, pyrography, illustrations, airbrushing. Williams talents extend over vast artistic area.
As a 1985 graduate of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, Burton received 4 art scholarships - Columbus College of Art and Design, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Rhode Island School of Design and the Kansas City Art Institute. After attending the Kansas City Art Institute, Burton returned to St. Louis and began airbrushing at a local clothing store before opening his own art studio.
In 1995, Burton produced an illustration for a local Christian published magazine and along with interior designer Julie Rooney, assisted in creating a mural relief for Southwest Bank in South County. In 2000, he worked with Portfolio Art Gallery curator and mentor, Robert Powell, to teach after-school art programs. Burton also taught mural classes in elementary schools, community centers and church youth groups.
April 2003, William was featured in the nations most circulated African American newspaper, The St Louis American. Burton creates poetry with a paintbrush stated reporter Maat Akins. Also in 2003, he participated in a group exhibition at Portfolio Art Gallery.
Currently, Burton clients included local businesses and community organizations in the St. Louis metropolitan area as well as in neighboring Illinois. He has recently completed numerous works on wood using pyrography (Greek for fire drawing ). With the assistance of a heated pen, he burns images on wood. He then incorporates color (either by stain or watercolor), adds a frame and produces remarkable works of art on wood.
William Burton, Jr. is an active member of The Black Artists Group (B.A.G), ArtDimensions and the Family Is True (F.I.T., LLC), a grass roots community organization.
Recent exhibitions include Robert A. Young Federal Bulding's Martin Luther King Celebration and Tribute, 2008 St Louis Naughti Gras.
