Bill Porter is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose studio practice investigates the structure and influence of storytelling. His work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions and publications across the United States as well as in Europe and South America. He earned an MFA in Visual Arts from LA+D (AIB) and he holds a BFA in Animation and a Certificate in Film Studies from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Before coming to Lesley University Bill worked in a variety of disciplines and roles as a professional artist and designer including character animator, motion media artist, illustrator, multimedia designer, videographer, graphic designer, photographer, and video editor. He designed and animated character-driven, interactive educational media and animated promotional videos for clients such as PBS Kids, Addison Wesley, and the Aardvark Design Group. Porter was a motion graphics designer with clients across a variety of sectors including broadcast (WLVI 56), tech companies (HP), and government agencies (US Secret Service). He has also worked in other phases of media production including directing and editing videos for Simmons College, Boston College, and Coldwell Banker. As a freelance illustrator, Porter designed characters and environments for website interfaces and marketing materials. In addition to contract work, Porter’s illustrations have been published in seven countries.
Visual Disability
Bill lives with an inherited retinal disorder called Retinitis Pigmentosa. Since formally being diagnosed as “legally blind” in 2018, Porter has used his platform as a visual artist and educator to dispel stereotypes about the assumed limitations of people who identify as blind or visually impaired. Bill has spoken publicly in various forums about the spectrum of blindness and the unique distinction of being a “blind” artist and educator. He is an advocate for the disabled community in various ways including serving as chair and founder of the Lesley University Disability Advocacy and Education Group as well as a member of the Lesley Art + Design Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice Committee.
Scholarly Work
Bill is a member of a team of five Lesley University faculty across disciplines that have conducted extensive research on effective peer feedback since 2016, which lead to the development of a three-step protocol for effective peer critique/review. The research team recently wrote a book that includes their research findings and strategies for effective critique across disciplines and modalities. Student-Led Peer Review: A Practical Guide to Implementation Across Disciplines and Modalities was published in October 2022.
Personal Website
Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billaporter/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billaporter/