Artist Profile: William Rose

Sculptor William Rose came to the Benicia art scene by way of his friend Mike Brown, whom he met as a colleague 12 years ago while building custom homes. Mike was an interior painter and finisher. Their friendship evolved around a mutual interest in art that culminated in a shared studio space for Open Studios in Benicia.

“He offered me some display space, so I filled out an application…and that’s how I’m showing right now," says the San Francisco resident. Rose lives in the South of Market Area (SOMA) district, where he shares a live-work space with his wife and daughter.

Initially, Rose was a weekend sand sculptor, but as his interest in art progressed he turned toward more durable objects, including wood, metal and stone.

Rose studied at the Crucible in Oakland, where he learned to weld. Being in a creative atmosphere really made a difference, he said. But his builder’s sensibility has stayed with him and he says it impacts how he approaches his art.

Although he has worked as a custom home builder for 15 years, Rose says he is now a full-time artist and a part-time contractor.  “I’m very excited about it,” he said. “With the way construction is, I thought this might just be the time to make the jump, and so I did it."

Rose will show his work with fellow artist and colleague Brown at  on Saturday and Sunday.