Unity and Wholeness, ceramic, stones, barrel hoops 36″ high 2025
“William Ishmael’s abstractions aren’t just paintings — they’re living surfaces where chance becomes beauty.”
Change is a constant for Sacramento artist William Ishmael. Twenty years ago, after a long career as a civil engineer, he made the leap to full-time painting — a move that replaced precision with spontaneity. He began with watercolor landscapes, then shifted to large abstracts on canvas and metal, using latex paint, sand, organic materials, and even the elements to weather and layer his surfaces. Ishmael also works in ceramics and creates art from found natural and industrial objects.
Guided by both intention and chance, he lets materials dictate the final outcome. “If it doesn’t please me, I can paint over it,” he says, valuing the depth and history that multiple layers bring. His openness to experimentation results in works that feel simultaneously raw and refined.
Ishmael’s art is widely collected, with commissions praised for their ability to elevate homes and public spaces. His accolades include being named Sacramento Art and Business Council’s “Artist of the Year” in 2011, and his monumental Wholeness and Fragmentation (9′ x 12′) is permanently installed in the Sacramento County Administration Building. Today, Ishmael focuses solely on projects he loves, making each day — and each work — count.
“It Truly Does Take a Village”
I would like to acknowledge several people including my ‘not often enough’ studio collaborator, Margaret Teichert, whose skill with tools clearly showed she must have skipped some important class and taken ‘Shop’ instead, for not only some of her great ideas, and rummaging skills, but also her talent in implementing them.
Of course, Cydney Bender-Reents who is so generous with her ceramic kiln that she has a setting called “William’ which is designed to overcome some of my sloppy techniques with clay without blowing the pieces up.
Also, Steve Worley, who in addition to having the good sense to ask Joann Buselli (our emotional and logistical support person) to marry him but also gathers fantastic flotsam and jetsam from his property in Mariposafor use in the pieces. He also lends a vital helping hand to making frames and other handy work.
To Jennifer Jackson and Brett Loper, of Grigio Art Consulting, for providing me with so many wonderful opportunities to place my art in their client’s offices and medical facilities.
To my husband, David Gibson, who has the finest design sense in Sacramento, but also the wisdom to offer his design eye only when asked!
And then those who have taught me many art skills including Anthony Maki Gill, ceramist extraordinaire, who has shared his studio in Auburn with many, many ceramics novices over the last decade or more.
Also, Jyoti Alexander, who assists measoften as my art budget permits and whose need for precision is the perfect counterpoint to my need for spontaneity.
But most of all to Barry Sakata and Barbara Ruona, owners of b. sakata garo, for hosting one of my art exhibits for the third time in four years. Bless their hearts!
William Ishmael
September 2025
