William Armstrong (American artist)

William Armstrong (born May 10, 1930 in Maplewood, New Jersey, United States) is an American artist who works primarily in painting and sculpting. He is represented by the William Armstrong Art Gallery and Studio, the Reynolds Square Fine Art Gallery 1 located in Savannah, Georgia, and World Wide Arts Resources 2.

Life and work

William Armstrong started out at 14 painting signs for butcher shops, in Newark. Armstrong studied at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts. He went on to become one of the world's leading scenic artists, creating dozens of major movie sets.

An accomplished artist, painter, sculptor and craftsman, Armstrong has worked with Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee and Woody Allen. Among Armstrong’s ornate movie sets featured in Architectural Digest have been Meet Joe Black and The Legend of Bagger Vance, the project that brought the painter to Savannah, Georgia which he and his wife Monique now call home.

Armstrong typically works from pen and ink drawings and pencil sketches, carefully observing the landscape and people around him. He also creates watercolors on location, en plein air.

Armstrong is best known for his low-country landscapes, figurative painting and [...]-edge scenic work.

Appearance in popular culture

William Armstrong's work has been featured in films like Meet Joe Black among other major films. His work was also central to the look and feel of legendary Studio 54. Of Armstrong's earlier work, most memorable is the famous Moon Man with spoon that swung back and forth over the dance floor.