William Britt is an accomplished and internationally recognized self-taught still-life and landscape painter with a developmental disability who is represented by Pure Vision Arts. Born in 1935, he was sent to the infamous Willowbrook State School in Staten Island New York as a child where he remained for 34 years. A frustrated young boy, Britt was given paints by his doctor and encouraged to express himself.
After the closure of Willowbrook, Britt moved into a group home in Westchester, New York where he continued to further his artistic technique. He now lives in his own home with an attached art studio and woodworking shop where he crafts his frames as well as furniture in West Haverstraw, New York, an area known for its natural beauty.
Britt’s masterful, intricately detailed paintings in the folk art tradition have garnered him several awards, including a Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation Award in 1986 for Outstanding Artistic Achievement. At a presentation at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Maya Angelou read her poem, “William Britt” to honor William’s contribution and experiences.
Britit’s work is included in an ever-growing number of collections including those of Nancy Reagan, Mario Cuomo, George Pataki, Prince Charles and the Emperor of Japan.
“Untitled" Oil on Board 32”x40” 2007
"Untitled" Oil on Canvas 12x16 2008
"Untitled" Oil on Canvas 15.5''x19.5'' 2007
"Untitled" Oil on Canvas 18''x24'' 2004
"Untitled" Oil on Board 2009
"Untitled" Oil on Board 30x40 2008
"Untitled" Oil on Board 1997
"Untitled" Oil on Board 2008
"Untitled" Oil on Board 2003
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Exhibition History
2012 20th Annual Outsider Art Fair, The Mart, NYC
Visions from the Edge, MCLA, Gallery 51, Adams, MA
2011 Innocence & Experience, Pure Vision Arts, NYC 6th Annual Outsider Art in The Hamptons, Galerie BelAge, Westhampton, NY
2010
Labor of Love, Pure Vision Arts, NYC
5th Annual Outsider Art in the Hamptons, Gallerie BelAge, Westhampton, NY
Outsider Art Fair NYC
2009
Paradise Found Pure Vision Arts, NYC
Pure Vision Arts at Marlborough Gallery, NYC
Outsider Art Fair, The Mart, NYC
2008 Modern Primitive Pure Vision Arts, NYC Pure Vision Arts at Marlborough Chelsea, NYC
2007 City Folk, Pure Vision Arts, NYC Pure Vision Arts at Marlborough Gallery, NYC Urban Visionaries, Pure Vision Arts, NYC
2006 Bestiary. Van Der Plas Gallery. NYC Pure Vision Arts at Marlborough Chelsea, NYC Pure Vision Arts, NYC 14th Annual Outsider Art Fair, NYC
2005 Pure Visions in the City, Pure Vision Arts Gallery, NYC Art View. City Museum of Washington D.C. 13th Annual Outsider Art Fair, NYC
2004 Art View Carnegie Institute, Washington D.C. 12th Annual Outsider Art Fair, NYC
2003 Pure Vision Arts Group Exhibition, Credit Suisse First Boston NYC
Pure Vision Arts, NYC Art View – Carnegie Institute. Washington D.C.
1986 J. P. Kennedy Award for Artistic Achievement. Washington D.C.
1985 The Gallery, Westchester Community College. NY
1984 New York State Representative - National Gallery for the Arts,
Washington D.C.
1983 Me and My Imagination Rockefeller Center, NYC
1976
First Annual NY State Southern Regional “A Very Special Arts Festival
Other Major Accomplishments
1986 J. P. Kennedy Award for Artistic Achievement. Washington D.C.
1984 Represented NY State with his painting, I Love New York,
National Gallery for the Arts, Washington D.C.
1983 Me and My Imagination, National Art Show, Rockefeller Center, NYC
William Britt
William Britt is an accomplished and internationally recognized self-taught still-life and landscape painter with a developmental disability who is represented by Pure Vision Arts. Born in 1935, he was sent to the infamous Willowbrook State School in Staten Island New York as a child where he remained for 34 years. A frustrated young boy, Britt was given paints by his doctor and encouraged to express himself.
After the closure of Willowbrook, Britt moved into a group home in Westchester, New York where he continued to further his artistic technique. He now lives in his own home with an attached art studio and woodworking shop where he crafts his frames as well as furniture in West Haverstraw, New York, an area known for its natural beauty.
Britt’s masterful, intricately detailed paintings in the folk art tradition have garnered him several awards, including a Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation Award in 1986 for Outstanding Artistic Achievement. At a presentation at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Maya Angelou read her poem, “William Britt” to honor William’s contribution and experiences.
Britit’s work is included in an ever-growing number of collections including those of Nancy Reagan, Mario Cuomo, George Pataki, Prince Charles and the Emperor of Japan.
“Untitled" Oil on Board 32”x40” 2007
"Untitled" Oil on Canvas 12x16 2008
"Untitled" Oil on Canvas 15.5''x19.5'' 2007
"Untitled" Oil on Canvas 18''x24'' 2004
"Untitled" Oil on Board 2009
"Untitled" Oil on Board 30x40 2008
"Untitled" Oil on Board 1997
"Untitled" Oil on Board 2008
"Untitled" Oil on Board 2003
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Exhibition History
2012
20th Annual Outsider Art Fair, The Mart, NYC
Visions from the Edge, MCLA, Gallery 51, Adams, MA
2011
Innocence & Experience, Pure Vision Arts, NYC
6th Annual Outsider Art in The Hamptons, Galerie BelAge, Westhampton, NY
2010
Labor of Love, Pure Vision Arts, NYC
5th Annual Outsider Art in the Hamptons, Gallerie BelAge, Westhampton, NY
Outsider Art Fair NYC
2009
Paradise Found Pure Vision Arts, NYC
Pure Vision Arts at Marlborough Gallery, NYC
Outsider Art Fair, The Mart, NYC
2008
Modern Primitive Pure Vision Arts, NYC
Pure Vision Arts at Marlborough Chelsea, NYC
2007
City Folk, Pure Vision Arts, NYC
Pure Vision Arts at Marlborough Gallery, NYC
Urban Visionaries, Pure Vision Arts, NYC
2006
Bestiary. Van Der Plas Gallery. NYC
Pure Vision Arts at Marlborough Chelsea, NYC
Pure Vision Arts, NYC
14th Annual Outsider Art Fair, NYC
2005
Pure Visions in the City, Pure Vision Arts Gallery, NYC
Art View. City Museum of Washington D.C.
13th Annual Outsider Art Fair, NYC
2004
Art View Carnegie Institute, Washington D.C.
12th Annual Outsider Art Fair, NYC
2003
Pure Vision Arts Group Exhibition, Credit Suisse First Boston NYC
Pure Vision Arts, NYC
Art View – Carnegie Institute. Washington D.C.
1986
J. P. Kennedy Award for Artistic Achievement. Washington D.C.
1985
The Gallery, Westchester Community College. NY
1984
New York State Representative - National Gallery for the Arts,
Washington D.C.
1983
Me and My Imagination Rockefeller Center, NYC
1976
First Annual NY State Southern Regional “A Very Special Arts Festival
Other Major Accomplishments
1986 J. P. Kennedy Award for Artistic Achievement. Washington D.C.
1984 Represented NY State with his painting, I Love New York,
National Gallery for the Arts, Washington D.C.
1983 Me and My Imagination, National Art Show, Rockefeller Center, NYC
Photo of artist by Matthew Septimus