Bill Czappa

I was born on July 22, 1947 in Los Angeles, California. Around 1950 my family moved to the coastal community of Culver City near Venice Beach. Some of my earliest aesthetic influences were the old Venice canals, then inundated with oil derricks. I found the canals and the old bridges crossing them interesting and mysterious.

My father was another early influence on my work; he was a metal and wood worker, and I learned building skills from him. He was very resourceful and inventive, whipping together small buildings and additions on our property.

In 1962 I saw an exhibition of work by installation and assemblage artist Edward Kienholz. It inspired me to make my own sculpture from found objects. During this time I also became interested in surfing and I began building skateboards and surfboards, honing my design and modeling skills by shaping and working with fiberglass.

When I turned 19 I built a cabin cruiser and lived aboard it in Marina Del Ray for the next 6 years while studying art at Santa Monica College. I graduated in 1972 with a degree in fine art. My current studio is in Burbank, California. Not far from the studio is my own personal gallery that has been at the same location for over 27 years, making it the oldest art gallery in Burbank.

My work is made from found objects of all kinds, from spaghetti sauce to concrete, and often includes sculpted wood. I seldom make a series; each sculpture is different from the next, although you may find some connecting links in style, content, or humor. I am also a writer and have incorporated text into some of my work. As with my art, there is a lot of humor and social commentary in my writing.

My goal in art is to make people feel better for having seen it.

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