The Color of Jazz

The Art Academy of Cincinnati is pleased to present The Color of Jazz: Concepts in Improvisation, an exhibition of paintings and drawings by artist and AAC alum William Parrish.

Artist’s Statement About the Exhibition: “The inspiration for this exhibition was former Cincinnati Art Museum designer Noel Martin and long-time Art Academy instructor Constance McClure. During my time at the Art Academy, they greatly influenced my artistic path. I spent numerous hours with Noel in his museum office watching him work, listening to jazz, and him sharing stories about jazz greats. We became good friends, and I fell in love with the music and his influence. Although I had a good basic foundation in art from Franklin Shands at Princeton High School, it was Connie McClure who quietly challenged me to be adventurous through the introduction of different materials and techniques. The creation of these works are merely to honor Noel and Connie for their influence and impact on my life as an artist.”

About the Artist: William (Bill) Parrish is the Founder and Executive Director of the Eckstein Cultural Arts Center in the Historic Village of Glendale, a northern suburb in Cincinnati. Bill holds a BFA in Communication Design from the Art Academy of Cincinnati and has exhibited his work in galleries and museums in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, North Carolina, Chicago, Austin, Oklahoma City, and San Diego. Bill was named a Distinguished Alumni of the AAC in 2022.