William A. “Bill” (1939 -1992) was born in Leon, Iowa, and graduated form the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism,  After a brief stint teaching journalism in Minnesota, he gravitated to New York in the late 1960’s. Through his job marketing corporate trips abroad which included art tours, he made many contacts in the New York and European art world.  After a year as director of Vest Art in New York,  he moved to Paris to open the Balanci-Graham Gallery where he worked with artists such as Charles Lapicque, André Masson, Jean Helion, and Man Ray.

In the late 1970’s, Bill returned to New York where art world friends directed him toward Houston. Impressed with what was being produced locally and regionally, in 1981 he remodeled the garage below his apartment on Bartlett Street. This small gallery space focused initially on young, emerging artists.  Exhibiting fresh talent, the Graham Gallery became an exciting gathering place for the art community. With continued success, in 1984 Bill moved his gallery to 1431 West Alabama, expanding his exhibition space and including a sculpture garden. 

Art was Bill’s passion and he was always ready to talk about it. He worked tirelessly to promote his artists and develop collectors for their work. He continually sought out new talent.  Artists coveted his studio visits as an opportunity to learn from his discerning eye and European sensibility. Throughout the community, he was respected and trusted; his passion and character drew artists, fellow dealers, museum professionals and collectors to him. Although a man of modest means, Bill’s generosity and financial support to artists in need was legendary.

Shortly before it  closed in summer 1992, the gallery’s roster included,  Kelly Alison, John Atlas, Eric Avery, Lydia Bodnar-Balahutrak, Laurent Bocarra, Malcolm Bucknall, Donald Calledare, Robert Campbell, Wade Chandler, Mel Chin, Alain Clement, James Cobb, Dick Davison, Sharon Engelstein, William Farr, Julie Fleschman, Patricia Gonzalez, Al Harris, Tracy Harris, Ron Hoover, Mary Jernigan, Pam Johnson, Hayden Larson, Robert Levers, Bonnie Lynch, Dalton Maroney, Tom Moody, Paulus Musters, Sybil Oshinsky, McKay Otto, Lynn Randolph, Rachel Ranta, Linda Ridgway, Rudolfo L. Sotello, Richard Stout, Susannah Strong, John Sturtevant Jacki Tileston, Neal von Hedemann, and Sandra York. 

Other artists who exhibited there included Martha Armstrong, Joanne Brigham, Gay Block, Derek Boshier, Danny Clayton, Jeff Delude, Don Foster,Tony Garner, Perry House, Terrell James, Sharon Kopriva, Charmaine Locke, Pauline Cherry, Brian Mains, Andy Mann, Arial Masson, Gary Retherford, Charles Rutenowski, Jim Rutherford,Bert Samples. George Smith, Charles Stagg, William Steen, and others.

Additional information about William A. Graham and the Graham Gallery from 1969-1984 is available at the Smithsonian Archives of American Art on two microfilm reels (nos. 3294, 3295). Additionally, the archives of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston houses original correspondence, files and papers from the gallery.