Bill Parker

William Coda Parker Jr. (1922–2009) | American Master of Post-Cubist Abstraction

William Coda Parker Jr., born March 2, 1922, in Josephine, Texas, was a major American abstract painter. He studied at the San Francisco School of Fine Arts under Fred Hocks, and later in New York with Hans Hofmann. In 1951, he moved to Paris on a U.S. government grant to train with Fernand Léger.

In 1954, he became the first American invited to exhibit at the Galerie Kaganovitch in Paris. He participated in the Salons de l'École de Paris (1953–1956) and showcased his work in Amsterdam, Moscow, New York, and London. His works are held in prestigious collections, including the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, and the Whitney Museum in New York.

Influenced by Cézanne, Léger, Braque, and Picasso, Parker developed a vibrant post-cubist abstract style characterized by geometric rhythms and warm palettes. His work received the Bührle Prize in 1953 and is featured in the Bénézit Dictionary. Parker’s legacy remains an emblematic link between 20th-century American and European abstraction.