Today we’d like to introduce you to William Mark Sommer.
Hi William Mark, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From my earliest memories, I have been interested in creating, making, and discovering the world around me. My journey in art started through skateboarding and its unique creativity, movements, and style. Invisioning the world through the perspective of skateboarding rewired my brain to see places differently and to see what we could make use of in an inbankment, stairs or bench. Through the creativity of skateboarding, I started filming and photographing my core group of friends with disposable cameras or my parents’ old cameras. Getting into the darkroom in high school and junior college, I expanded my ideas of creativity, ways to see skating and grew through aspects of education and photographic history.
Navigating various professional roles and career failures, working in special education, found me. Through this opportunity to help many in need, I deepened my understanding of art, the importance of creative expression, and the value of sharing my work with others. These teaching experiences inspired me to explore innovative and inclusive approaches to public engagement grounded in democratic principles, which have since influenced my work.
In recent years, I have invested in residencies to deepen my work and further my travels. Receiving the opportunity to take part in these creative outlets has been wonderful. From the uninhibited space and time through these residencies, I have developed and realized many of the works that have been on my mind or that I have wanted to construct for years. From creating many series of photos to handmade books, installations, and exhibitions, residencies have provided many opportunities for growth and advancement that have kept me inspired to participate in more.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
From early education to transferring colleges, navigating grad schools, to shifts in jobs and relationships, it’s been an uphill battle through this creative career, amid many aspects of life. I wish it could have been an easier journey to succeed on this path, but it has built character and shown me many parts of life I would never have been able to explore in a conventional life. Investing 100% of myself in art has taken a great deal of time, energy, friendships, and life that I wish, in many ways, I had taken a different path or developed different connections to make it work. Constantly moving to follow this career, I have missed many of my relationships that were based at home or developed in place, but I would say there are times in life when it just feels perfect, at least for a little while. I hate being negative, but many days the grass feels greener on the other side of the fence, and there is no other way but forward to try and make things better. Though this choice comes with many hardships, I am thankful to those who make it better, who fight for others, and who share kindness.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Being a multidisciplinary visual artist who has worked in analog photography, installation, and book forms for the last twenty years, I enjoy pursuing many ideas, themes, aesthetics, and narratives simultaneously, compartmentalizing and developing multiple series in a diligent way that grow and build upon one another. As my photographic work has evolved, travel has played a central role in shaping my artistic identity and vision, allowing me to form meaningful connections with diverse ecosystems and communities across the United States. Through my projects that integrate travel and photography, I aim to convey the stories of the land and foster a deeper connection to nature through diverse creative forms.
Travel and photography have also provided opportunities to present my work across numerous group exhibitions, publications, and formats, reaching many audiences worldwide. These experiences have challenged and motivated me to pursue further artistic growth, residencies, and travels that pull my work in new directions. Through my travels and works, I have valued the communal aspects of art, recognizing its capacity to inspire change, generate interest, and foster a sense of purpose for myself and others.
If there were one thing I could be most proud of, it would be having the motivation and perseverance to keep on trying. Though many things and times come with hardships from loss, to health to any number of things, I am happy that I have been able to keep going, still be motivated to create as much as I can, still feel energized to make new works that expand my pratice, still feel open to talking to everyone, and still feeling interested with the many unique aspects of life that make up our world.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I am an avid photo book collector. I always love to visit the many book and zine fairs across California. I find it hard to say a favorite book, there are too many greats.
Pricing:
- 16″ x 20″ – $900.00
- 20″ x 20″ – $1000.00
- Other prices available on request.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.williammarksommer.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/williammarksommer/
- Other: https://williammarksommer.tumblr.com
