Bill Voiland Posters, 1968-1980

William (Bill) Francis Voiland was born in South Bend, Indiana in 1947, but raised in Richland, WA, from 1951 forward. After dabbling in art in school, he entered WSU as a freshman in 1968. An internship with Battelle Northwest taught him silk-screening, and a poster for a WSU Homecoming Dance led to commissions from the Student Union and other campus departments. He rented space in the back of the Pullman Printers print shop for his work.

While on campus, Bill partnered with many other students (whose signature is also on the art), including Dan Hanrahan, Doug Crabtree and Keith Hoofnagle. During this time he became involved in the cultural activism happening on campus, and a number of his posters reflect that activism and those times. Bill graduated with distinction in 1970 with a degree in Fine Arts, making his own colorful robe for the ceremony.

After a 1971-1973 stint in the Army, working with the Army Artist Team, he briefly moved to Southern California and then in 1974 to Spokane, WA, where he started the printing business which would become Wild Bill Graphics (which as of 2020 remains in business), and produced a variety of posters for Expo ’74.

As of 2020, Bill is semi-retired and living in Richland, WA.

A more in-depth biography can be found in the donor file associated with this collection.