Biography of William Mangum — North Carolina's Artist

William Mangum, one of the most popular and respected watercolor artists in the region, is a native of North Carolina. Bill and his wife, Cynthia, have lived in Greensboro for 30 years, where they raise three children. He received his Associate in Arts Degree from Sandhills Community College and a Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts Degree from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

While still an art student at the university, Bill held his first exhibition, in which he sold out. By 1978, Bill published his very first limited edition print entitled "West Jefferson" which sold 500 copies. In 1982, he opened Carey-Mangum Gallery, now known as William Mangum Fine Art.

Exhibitions

Aside from his commercial success, his stunning art has been shown in many 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, 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.

Starting with a 59-cent tray of watercolors, Bill has produced more than 3,000 originals — all drawn from his thirty years of travels throughout North Carolina and abroad. Bill has built a solid reputation as one of the most respected and collected artist in North Carolina. He has self-published over 300 paintings as limited edition prints. More than 50,000 of his works have made their way into private and corporate collections! Bill is also published by Bruce McGraw Graphics in New York, one of the premier publishers of fine art in the world. As a result, a network of 250 dealers continually buy Bill’s releases as they are published. (Annually, eight to ten paintings are reproduced and marketed to a wholesale and retail audience.) Over 20,000 private collectors excitedly anticipate Bill’s annual limited edition releases.

Publication

Awards and Recognition

• Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
  • Leadership Medal
• Sandhills Community College
  • Distinguished Alumnus Award
• United Way of North Carolina
  • Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service
• Toastmaster’s International
  • Communication and Leadership Award
• NC Interagency Council
  • Outstanding Community Impact Award for Service to Homelessness

Bill’s first art book, "Behold the Beauty," featured his highly respected and collected regional watercolors and text drawn from three TV journalists. "Carolina Preserves," is a collection of 48 North Carolinians sharing their impressions and common love for the state of North Carolina. "Carolina Preserves" contains 130 original paintings Bill created to complement and illustrate the contributor's essays. Elizabeth Dole, Richard Petty, Michael Jordan, Charlie Rose, and Ruth and Billy Graham were just a few contributors who partnered with Bill to celebrate the virtues of calling North Carolina home. UNC-TV produced an hour-long film based upon "Carolina Preserves," and the film has since aired countless times on PBS. Both the book and film have won state and national awards for artistic, educational, and historical achievement.

Due for release in March 2008, is Bill’s fifth book — “Greensboro Roots and Renaissance” celebrating the Bicentennial of his home town of more than 30 years. Over 100 paintings were created to showcase some of the greatest assets of this vibrant community. Bill shows that a wide and highly interesting variety of businesses, neighborhoods, sports and theatrical venues and more — both olde and new — are the keys to Greensboro’s rich heritage and exciting future.

Personality

In 2000, Bill revamped his fourth gallery. This 4,500 square foot space exclusively showcases his artwork. Each fall, he hosts a two-day Open House, which has proven to be a mushrooming event. More than 3,000 avid collectors visit the gallery over these fun 48 hours to meet the artist and purchase his works. Bill’s approachable ‘aw shucks’ attitude and celebrity-worthy smile belies his truly eloquent way with words. Add this to his deep well of talent and it’s very easy to see why Bill has become familiar to a growing group of collectors through magazine features in Southern Living, Our State, Southern Accents and Capturing the Spirit of the Carolina’s. He has also been interviewed on North Carolina Now and The Bill Friday Show.

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 Urban Ministry, Hospice, United Way, Greensboro Mental Health Society, Greensboro Ballet, The Scholastic Art Awards and many others. Bill is humbly thankful and proud that contribution of art and personal involvement in these causes has raised millions of dollars for non-profit agencies throughout United States.