As an artist, designer, author, publisher, and keynote speaker, William Mangum epitomizes the term “entrepreneur.” Beginning his professional journey while still a student at UNCG, he has woven his talents into a broad-reaching, ever-evolving 40-year career.
Bill has capitalized on his gifts as he traveled the world capturing the compelling beauty of England, The Greek Isles, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland, to name a few of his painting sojourns. Leveraging this body of work, his creations have been licensed to international publishers and have sold worldwide.
Never one to forget his roots, Bill has also recorded the diverse charms of his beloved home state of North Carolina. Wielding watercolors with a commanding hand, his landscape paintings so vividly capture the state’s allure they’ve earned him a legion of fans and collectors, who identify him as North Carolina’s Artist.
Bill’s versatility has set the tone for a multi-faceted career. As an artist, author and publisher, his work has generated a myriad of projects, including eight books, two films and a one-person exhibition at the North Carolina Museum of History.
Recognizing that art can be a voice, he has come alongside many Fortune 500 companies to celebrate their brand through his art. Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Sealy, Syngenta, Lincoln Financial, ESPN and many others have all utilized his artwork from boardrooms to corporate outings. Adding dimension to these partnerships is Bill’s ability to entertain their clients with his keynote programs, culminating an event that is both inspiring and memorable.
In 2013 Bill’s career took on a new trajectory. He partnered with Klaussner Home Furnishings creating “Carolina Preserves – An Artist Inspired Home Collection.” Bringing his keen eye, sense of style, and sensible design to the collaboration; it has yielded eight broad and immensely successful collections.
As his Artist Inspired Home Collection grew into broader categories, including rug, lighting, and accent furniture, he began expanding his artwork as well. Building on the skills honed throughout his career; he worked pushing his mediums and tools. The result is an evolution of his artwork from traditional and transitional into contemporary and abstract forms. The diversity of his paintings showing the breadth of his talents and garnering him an extraordinary following for his latest creations.
Exhibitions
Aside from his commercial success, Bill’s stunning art has been selected for numerous exhibitions across the United States and abroad. Bill’s paintings have been shown by notable museums and art organizations, including the National Arts Club, the Society of Illustrators, Allied Artists of America, the Salmagundi Club and the Knickerbocker Artists League all in New York. Bill has participated or exhibited in the Aqueous Open in Louisville, the New Realists show in Chicago, the Butler Art Institute in Youngstown Ohio and the International Watercolor Exhibition in London.
An artist with a broad palette, and technical mastery, Bill creates a colorful collection of landscape and architectural paintings. These handsome, stylish pieces feature the coast, mountains, urban landscapes and beautiful hideaways from around the world.
Philanthropy
Bill and his staff make sure his expanding successes also benefit his state and community in surprising ways. Bill has created specific images to directly aid a variety of social causes, including Greensboro Urban Ministry, Hospice, United Way, Mental Greensboro Health Society, Greensboro Ballet, The Scholastic Art Awards and many others. Bill is humbly thankful and proud that the contribution of art and personal involvement in these causes have raised millions of dollars for non-profit agencies throughout United States.
Now in its thirty-third year, The Honor Card program is a testimony of his outreach to the state’s needy and homeless community. Featured on The NBC Evening News - Making a Difference. With the support of the Wells Fargo Foundation, The Honor Card program has expanded to fourteen cities across the state raising nearly $10 million dollars for agencies to give hope, encouragement and support to the homeless and needy.