June 12, 1985, shortly after graduating from the University of the Arts, William Quigley had his first exhibition of five abstract paintings with Andy Warhol at the Henry McNeil Gallery in Philadelphia. The show featured five of his abstract works alongside Warhol’s Images of a Child’s World paintings. McNeil, one of the most prominent art collectors in the world, went on to include Quigley in group exhibitions from 1985 to 1990 with influential artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Dennis Oppenheim, Alice Aycock, Julian Schnabel, Chrystof Kohlhofer, Pat Steir, David Salle, Richard Artschwager, Willy Heeks, Barbara Kruger, and Keith Haring.
In 1990, Quigley moved to Los Angeles and became affiliated with Manny Silverman Gallery, where his energetic gestural abstractions were championed by Silverman and his collectors. The gallery provided Quigley with a monthly stipend to create new works shown alongside major artists including Robert Motherwell, Robert Rauschenberg, Michael Goldberg, Ed Ruscha, Ed Moses, Sam Francis, Joe Goode, and his greatest influence, Willem de Kooning. Silverman also arranged a residency for Quigley to paint with Joan Mitchell at her Giverny studio, but the collaboration was halted due to Mitchell’s illness in 1992.
While participating in Art Los Angeles Fair in 1991, Quigley met Art Basel founders, Ferran Cano and Ernst Beyeler. They offered a show at Art Basel and an 8 month year painting residency for Quigley at the Miró Mallorca Foundation in 1992–93. After returning to Los Angeles, he founded AB Gallery in two Los Angeles mini-mall locations—on Robertson and Hollywood Boulevards.
After a successful period in Los Angeles, Quigley returned to New York City in 1999 for a meeting with Gagosian Gallery and decided to remain, establishing studios in Chelsea's Starrett-Lehigh Building, then Tribeca and Soho, where he worked until 2012, followed by a brief period in Concord, Massachusetts (2012–13). His work was shaped by Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock and mentors from college including Alice Neel, Lee Krasner, Laurie Anderson, Jane Wilson, Walter Darby Bannard, and art critic Clement Greenberg. After painting throughout New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Italy, Venezuela, Spain, and India, he relocated to East Hampton in 2013, converting a former 1970s auto mechanics garage on the historic Schenck Fuels property into his studio.
On April 29, 2020—his birthday and two days after the passing of his father, William, a devout Irish Catholic who spent his life in the automobile parts business—Quigley collaborated with WAX and PayPal creator William E. Quigley to release three NFTs, selling 714 editions in 38 seconds. Shortly afterward, he completed Oh Father, a deeply personal work inspired by his father's passing. Finding profound meaning in painting inside a former mechanics garage, Quigley transformed the studio space into AB NY Gallery, originally founded in Los Angeles in 1994 before its artists were absorbed by larger international galleries. He rented another larger more remote mechanics garage to paint in, inspired by his father's enduring words: "See how the Lord works, son."
Spanning four decades, Quigley's career bridges the New York, Los Angeles, and European art worlds while remaining rooted in the traditions of postwar American abstraction. His work reflects a lineage shaped by direct relationships with many of the defining artists, critics, and dealers of the twentieth century.
He is represented by The Bonnier Gallery Karl Hutter Fine Art and Galeria Cortina in Barcelona.
IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING, 54 X 64", 2023
OIL, SPRAY PAINT, CHARCOAL, PASTELS ON CANVAS
OIL, SPRAY PAINT, CHARCOAL, PASTELS ON CANVAS
$35,000.
NOT YOU AGAIN?, 54 X 64", 2023
OIL, SPRAY PAINT, CHARCOAL, PASTELS ON CANVAS
OIL, SPRAY PAINT, CHARCOAL, PASTELS ON CANVAS
$32,000.
WILL YOU MARRY ME? 30 X 72 INCHES, 2024
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS AND FRAMED
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS AND FRAMED
$45,000 TOGETHER.
LITTE GREEN GEM, OIL, PASTEL ON CANVAS, 16 X 20", 2022
$14,000.
IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING, 20 X 16", 2018
OIL AND OIL PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL AND OIL PASTEL ON CANVAS
$8,000.
THOUGHT I WAS ALL SET TIL U CAME ALONG, 16 X 14", 2025
OIL, SPRAY PAINT, CHARCOAL, PASTELS ON CANVAS
OIL, SPRAY PAINT, CHARCOAL, PASTELS ON CANVAS
$14,000.
SOLD
A LIGHT WORKOUT, 30 X 24", 2025
OIL, SPRAY PAINT, CHARCOAL, PASTELS ON CANVAS
OIL, SPRAY PAINT, CHARCOAL, PASTELS ON CANVAS
$22,000.
LOOKING AT YVES, 80 X 80", 2025
ACRYLIC ON CANVAS
ACRYLIC ON CANVAS
$60,000.
SOLD
BIG WIGGLER, 50 X 50", 2024
OIL, SPRAY PAINT, CHARCOAL, PASTELS ON CANVAS
OIL, SPRAY PAINT, CHARCOAL, PASTELS ON CANVAS
$40,000.
SOLD
I LIKE THEM ALL FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, 24 X 20", 2025
OIL, SPRAY PAINT, CHARCOAL, PASTELS ON CANVAS
OIL, SPRAY PAINT, CHARCOAL, PASTELS ON CANVAS
$18,000.
SOLD
NO BODY WILL UNDERSTAND THIS ONE 40 X 30 INCHES, 2023
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS AND FRAMED
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS AND FRAMED
$24,000.
I HAVE GREAT IDEAS FOR THIS NEW PAINTING JUST CANT SAY IT IN FRENCH, 74 X 30", 2024
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
$30,000.
YOU DO? 80 X 80 INCHES, 2024
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
$60,000.
OKIE DOKIE, 80 X 80 INCHES, 2022
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
$60,000
1998 GAGOSIAN LETTER.....OH DONT WORRY THEY'RE ALL COMING SOON, 80 X 80", 2022
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
$60,000.
THE ALIENS ARE HERE, 44 X 36 INCHES, 2026
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS AND FRAMED
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS AND FRAMED
$28,000.
I'M NOT EXACTLY CONVINCED ITS THE RIGHT TIME FOR THAT NOW, 74 X 74", 2020
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, PASTEL ON CANVAS
$42,000.
WILL YOU MARRY ME? 30 X 24 INCHES, 2024
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS AND FRAMED
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS AND FRAMED
$18,000.
I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE THIS ONE IN FRENCH 30 X 24 INCHES, 2024
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS AND FRAMED
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS AND FRAMED
$18,000.
ABSTRACT LIVES MATTER? 30 X 24 INCHES, 2024
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS AND FRAMED
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS AND FRAMED
$18,000.
DINWINDIE, 2017, 40 X 30 INCHES
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, PASTEL ON CANVAS
$14,000.
YORE TELLIN ME, 2022, 48 X 48 INCHES
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
$24,000.
THIS IS A FIGURE PAINTING , 2020-24, 50 X 50 INCHES
OIL, ACRYLIC, SPRAY PAINT, CHARCOAL, PENCIL, OIL CRAYON, PASTEL, COLLAGE ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, SPRAY PAINT, CHARCOAL, PENCIL, OIL CRAYON, PASTEL, COLLAGE ON CANVAS
$24,000.
NOT QUITE THERE, 2019, 74 X 62 INCHES
OIL, ACRYLIC, CHARCOAL, PENCIL, OIL CRAYON, PASTEL, COLLAGE ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, CHARCOAL, PENCIL, OIL CRAYON, PASTEL, COLLAGE ON CANVAS
$60,000.
ITS WHEN HE FIRST BROKE OFF FROM THE OTHER FELLAS, 74 x 74 INCHES
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
SOLD
JE PRIE POR NE PAS AVOIR TOUT QUE EXPLIQUER EN FRANCAIS, 84 x 60 INCHES 2025
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
$38,000.
I DO LIKE HORSES, 2018, 72 X 73 INCHES
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS
$50,000.
WHERE'S COCO, 2016, 60 X 64 INCHES
OIL, ACRYLIC, OIL CRAYON, PASTEL, ROPE,COLLAGE ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, OIL CRAYON, PASTEL, ROPE,COLLAGE ON CANVAS
$30,000.
LETS FIGURE THIS ONE OUT, 2025, 40 X 52 INCHES
OIL, ACRYLIC, OIL CRAYON, PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, OIL CRAYON, PASTEL ON CANVAS
$45,000.
SOLD
UGH, 40 X 24", ACRYLIC ON PAPER, 2023
$22,000.
SOLD
DAUGHTER 1, 2022, 16 X 20 INCHES
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON PASTEL ON CANVAS
$18,000.
SOLD
HUH? I DONT GET IT?, 42 X 36", 2024
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS AND FRAMED
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, SPRAY PAINT, PASTEL ON CANVAS AND FRAMED
$24,000.
BROTHER 1, 2021, 24 X 30 INCHES
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON PASTEL ON CANVAS
$22,000.
SOLD
IN 25 YRS YOUR ART PURCHASE TODAY CAN BE WORTH MORE THAN YOUR HOME, 18 X 22", 2010 OIL ON CANVAS,
$24,000.
SOLD
UNTITLED #2, 1990, 32 X 40 INCHES
CHARCOAL, PASTEL ON RIVES BFK PAPER
CHARCOAL, PASTEL ON RIVES BFK PAPER
$10,000.
UNTITLED #3, 1990, 12 X 20 INCHES
CHARCOAL, PASTEL ON RIVES BFK PAPER
CHARCOAL, PASTEL ON RIVES BFK PAPER
$2,500.
UNTITLED GREY #4, 1990, 20 X 24 INCHES
CHARCOAL, PASTEL ON RIVES BFK PAPER
CHARCOAL, PASTEL ON RIVES BFK PAPER
$2,500.
PERISHABLE, 2018 16 X 20 INCHES
OIL, ACRYLIC, CHARCOAL, PASTEL ON STRATHMORE PAPER
OIL, ACRYLIC, CHARCOAL, PASTEL ON STRATHMORE PAPER
$3,000.
SOLD
I DIDNT GET THE WIRE BUT TRUST IT'S ON THE WAY, 2018
SOLD
24 X 18 $1500 / 36 X 28 $2500
THIS PAINTING ISNT GOIN TO FINISH ITSELF, 24 X 18", 2023
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, PASTEL ON CANVAS
OIL, ACRYLIC, CRAYON, PASTEL ON CANVAS
$22,000.
SOLD