Will Schmahl
Philadelphia, PENNSYLVANIA
The artwork I create reflects who I am— a balance of careful planning, spontaneous exploration, and a touch of messiness.
Message
My career in advertising has spanned 23 years, but my creative journey began long before that. I first studied music at Moravian College, where I was surrounded by passionate art majors whose love for visual arts sparked my own interest in painting. After leaving Moravian, I moved back to NYC to pursue dance at Marymount Manhattan College. However, a knee injury cut my dance career short, leading me to my first 9-to-5 job in advertising.
Creativity has always been a constant in my life, whether through personal projects or artistic pursuits. After years away from painting, I rediscovered my love for it in 2018 while working with resin on a home improvement project. That small spark reignited my passion for art. More recently, painting became a form of therapy after the loss of my partner in 2020, helping me process grief when words failed. It became a way to balance pain with expression, and it continues to bring me healing and joy every day.
Statement
I believe my artistic style is still evolving—undefined, yet deeply rooted in bold experimentation. My work is riotously colorful and textured, often featuring drips and raw edges that paradoxically contrast with carefully rendered subjects. A spirit of curiosity and exploration drives my approach to materials and mediums, often leading to unexpected combinations of meaningful substances woven into my art. Incorporating unconventional materials—especially in my commissioned pieces—allows me to create layered, multidimensional works that tell a story. For me, it’s all about crafting art that resonates with depth and narrative.
Today, I create in my studio in Philadelphia’s Old City art district. Thank you for exploring my work—I hope it brings you the same peace and inspiration it has brought me. Xoxo.