BIOGRAPHY

I was born in the heartland of America and it is there I have chosen to make my home. Educated at the University of Northern Iowa, BA 1968 and Viterbo Collage, MA 1992. I retired in 2002 after thirty-three years of teaching art at Peet Junior High School in Cedar Falls, Iowa. I now live in a new home and studio on a small acreage just north of New Hartford, Iowa and spend my time traveling , mowing and making art. My body of work consists of pastel paintings and wood sculpture and furniture.
William  Close is a charter member of the Iowa Pastel Society.

RECENT EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS


34th Annual Box and Container Show
Northwest Woodworkers Gallery
Seattle, Washington
People's Choice Award 2013

The Woodworkers Show
St. Louis, Missouri
Best of Show 2013

44th Annual Clay, Fiber, Paper, Glass, Metal, Wood Exhibition
Octagon Center for the Arts
Ames, Iowa
Juried Exhibition 2012

Art in the Park
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Award of Merit Wood 2012

Snake Alley Arts Festival
Burlington, Iowa
Best of Show Wood 2012

Wheaton Franciscan Festival of Trees
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Featured Artist 2011, 2012, 2013

Iowa State Fair 
Des Moines, Iowa
Honorable Mention Sculpture 2011
People's Choice Award Second Place 2011

College Hill Arts Festival
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Patron Purchase Award 2010 & 2011

43rd Annual Clay, Fiber, Paper, Glass, Metal, Wood Exhibition
Ames, Iowa
Juried Exhibition 2011

The Woodworking Shows
Chicago, Illinois
Second  Place Best of Show 2010

Villages of Van Buren County Fall Art  Festival
Bentonsport, Iowa
Best of Show Award 2010

The Woodworking Shows
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Best of Show 2009

Iowa State Fair
Des Moines, Iowa
People's Choice Award 2009

Art on the Square
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Best of Show Second Place 2009

41st Annual Clay, Fiber, Paper, Class, Metal, Wood Exhibition Ames, Iowa 
 Juried Exhibition 2009

Waterloo Center for the Arts Holiday Arts Festival Waterloo, Iowa
Purchase Award 2008

Iowa State Fair Des Moines, Iowa
Juried Exhibition 2008

Artpaloosa Cedar Falls, Iowa
Mayor's Award 2007

Dubuque Museum of Art Biennial Exhibition Dubuque, Iowa
Juried Exhibition 2007

Quad-State Juried Exhibitions Quincy Art Center, Quincy, Illinois
Merit Award 2006

Dr. E.H. Stumme Memorial Exhibitions 
Denver, Iowa
First Place Professional Drawing 2008
First Place Professional Drawing 2006
Best of Show Purchase Award 2005
First Place Professional Drawing Purchase Award 2004

Snake Alley Art Festival Burlington Art Guild Burlington, Iowa
First Place Booth Award 2006



ART FESTIVAL
BOOTH
WILLIAM CLOSE
ARTIST
WILLIAM CLOSE  ARTIST
CLOSE QTRS STUDIO