William Okaily

William Okaily is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and writer whose practice bridges visual and performing arts, scenography, and critical research. His work explores perception and the intersections of materiality and myth, often incorporating deconstructive methodologies and oral histories. Influenced by East Asian philosophies of Nothingness, he investigates what he calls "the grandeur in the granular"—how subtle details evoke visceral responses and reveal hidden complexities.

William earned an MFA in Multidisciplinary Art from the Maryland Institute College of Art, where he also pursued a Minor in Curatorial Practice and a Certificate in the College Teaching of Art. He holds a BA in Studio Art with a Minor in Media and Communication from the American University of Beirut and completed his French Baccalaureate in Philosophy and Literature.

His work has been exhibited in Lebanon and the United States, and he participated in the Antioch Recovery Project Research Lab at Johns Hopkins University. Currently, he contributes accessible art criticism to RVA Magazine and teaches Painting and Drawing at the Visual Art Center of Richmond and the Cultural Art Center at Glen Allen. William fosters critical perspectives and innovative pedagogies, integrating radicalism, critical thought, and risk-taking into dynamic learning environments.