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Yale School of Art
1156 Chapel Street, POB 208339
New Haven, Connecticut, 06520-8339

Artist Clifford Ross, who studied art and art history at Yale as an undergraduate during William Bailey’s time as dean, offers this remembrance of Professor Bailey, a distinguished alumni, former dean and faculty member, as well as the Kingman Brewster Professor Emeritus of Art.

Last edited by: Lindsey Mancini

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Bill was everything an artist should be, and since he was also generous and kind, (not necessarily standard for an artist), he stands for something tremendously important in our lives.

There was never any pretense with Bill. He was focused when he was teaching, challenging, occasionally impatient - but only when a student wasn’t working up to his or her potential. And - wow - he could level a slap down stare. Niceties could be perfunctory, but his eyes were twinkling when he was encouraging - warm. He always wanted his students to succeed on their own terms… after passing through his special teaching gauntlet. As a student, he made us feel that we were discussing Giotto, not that he was teaching us about Giotto. We explored Giotto’s magic together. What a gift.

A teacher, indeed.

The photographs below were taken in William Bailey’s New Haven studio on December 3, 2019. They tell his story.

Clifford Ross

BA, 1974

Member, Dean’s Council

Yale School of Art

Last edited by: Lindsey Mancini

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A still image of painter and professor William Bailey sitting in his studio in front of a work-in-progress on an easel.A still image of painter and professor William Bailey sitting in his studio in front of a work-in-progress on an easel.
A still image of painter and professor William Bailey's studio workspace.A still image of painter and professor William Bailey's studio workspace.
A still image of painter and professor William Bailey's studio workspace.A still image of painter and professor William Bailey's studio workspace.
A still image of painter and professor William Bailey's studio workspace.A still image of painter and professor William Bailey's studio workspace.
A still image of painter and professor William Bailey's studio workspace.A still image of painter and professor William Bailey's studio workspace.
A still image of painter and professor William Bailey's studio workspace.A still image of painter and professor William Bailey's studio workspace.
A still image of painter and professor William Bailey's studio workspace.A still image of painter and professor William Bailey's studio workspace.
Return to the School of Art’s remembrance page for William Bailey >>

Last edited by: Lindsey Mancini

Edit access: Everybody