Artwork copyright William Schlough. Photo courtesy of the artist, 2022.

Artwork copyright William Schlough. Photo courtesy of the artist, 2022.

Artwork copyright William Schlough. Photo courtesy of the artist, 2022.

Artwork copyright William Schlough. Photo courtesy of the artist, 2022.

Oil Bloom, 2022

William Schlough
(American, born 1984)

Location: South Seattle College, Seattle

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Oil Bloom by William Schlough is created from painted re-conditioned oil drums. The colorful barrels create a pixelated image of a berry flower, but they also reference the large stacks of oil barrels that one can find at industrial sites. Schlough notes that the site-specific installation "speaks to the scale and history of the auto industry, our relationship to the land, and the importance of creating a more sustainable and fruitful future." The image is also a nod to the berries that were the fuel of the local Duwamish people.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with South Seattle College.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

William Schlough creates public art with a focus on community engagement.

After growing up in Ohio and New Hampshire, Schlough earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in 2007. He received a Fulbright grant in 2008 to create sculpture in Iceland based on the society’s interaction with its unique landscape. He moved to Seattle in 2014 and earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Washington in 2017. This education made him even more aware of the power of public art. He currently lives and works in Seattle, Washington.