William J. Scheel is an Egyptian American artist from Vestal, NY, and will receive his BFA in Photography, at Purchase College, NY, in 2025. His work embodies a fast-paced, point-and-shoot style of the mundane, revealing unseen obscurities of everyday life. Gaining influence from his dreams and Pop Art, he photographs found objects and scenes, expressing them in a new playful light. Utilizing hints of nostalgia, Will’s images are vivid, multicolored celebrations of life, expressing the beauties of the world in their small, overlooked moments. Through this, he raises questions about growing technological reliance, large corporations, and environmentalism. He feels humans are all interconnected with each other and the natural world around us. His images, often of flowers, use size and complementary colors to replicate advertisements and logo culture. As the corporate world dominates in its ability to capture and influence the viewer, Will looks to emulate these effects within his images with life’s positive and peculiar moments. He also works with the emerging band Telula, by filming, photographing, and documenting their entire process, including song-writing, production, and performance, while integrating those same ideas into their image through cover art and music videos.  

William’s current work includes a series of found images, made by his grandfather, Robert Yacoub, traversing from the mid-60’s to 1990. His grandfather, born in Egypt in 1929, was a renowned doctor and surgeon in his time. His passions included travel, photography, and reading. “Growing up, I bonded with my Geddo over the camera and its ability to capture the wonders of the world. Together we watched National Geographic documentaries and if it wasn’t for this, I don’t know if I would have pursued photography as a career,” said Will. Over the years, his grandfather created a large body of photographs spanning from most of the Eastern world to America. As a first-generation American who struggles with his Egyptian identity, Will sought knowledge of his family and their life in Egypt through these pictures. Not only do the images serve as a timestamp on the history of the world, but they unveil themes of American propaganda, industrialization, and the long-lasting effects of colonialism. This series displays the various cultures and how they connect to the United States, illustrating what it means for Will to have grown up 5,700 miles away from Egypt.