Through the Eyes of Photographer William “Bill” Grace

About the exhibition

In honor of his recent 92nd birthday, this exhibition presents a survey of the photographic work of William “Bill” Grace of Newport News. Grace has been practicing photography since his youth. Following graduation from his high school in Pittsburgh, where he served as the class photographer, Grace worked as a photographer for the Pittsburgh Courier, one of only two African American newspapers in the country at the time. To accommodate his work, he painted his bedroom black and converted it into a darkroom.

Grace eventually joined the United States Air Force, where he remained for 22 years. Throughout his time in the military, he maintained his proficiency in photography and computer technology, allowing him to make a smooth transition from film to digital photography. Following his retirement, he started his own facility maintenance company, Grace Industries, which is still in operation today.

Landscape, nature and street photography are Grace’s preferred subjects. In recent years, he has been using drones to gain new photographic perspectives. Grace operates a company called Unique Photography LLC, and is active in professional associations, including the Virginia Professional Photography Association and the Southeastern Photography Association, as well as the Professional Photographers of America, which has both published and exhibited his photographs.