...started in 1999 as the brainchild of famed US contemporary artist, William Quigley, Skrapper is a socially consciousness brand, hosting art, fashion and music events that supports a variety of charitable causes.
As the New York / LA contemporary art world grew internationally, Quigley used Skrapper as a billboard to showcase art, build a community and share its philosophy about the importance of culture, education, giving and respect to a wider audience. Each piece is a reinvention from an original artwork transforming his restless creativity into a wearable canvas that blur the lines of Art + Fashion.
Quigley was educated in Philadelphia at University of the Arts BFA, University of Penn, Tyler School of Art, Rome and in New York at Columbia University MFA. He was taught by inspiring artists such as Alice Neel, Richard Diebenkorn, Walter Darby Bannard, Laurie Anderson, Lee Krasner, etc. His first ever exhibition was with Andy Warhol in June 1985 in Philadelphia at Henry McNeil Gallery. McNeil is also one of the biggest collectors of contemporary art in the US.He continued showing at the gallery with artists Julian Schnabel, JM Basquiat, Keith Haring, Pat Steir, Anselm Kiefer, George Baselitz, Albert Oehlen etc until 1992. In 1989 he moved to Los Angeles and began working with legendary dealer Manny Silverman Gallery who exhibited artists like Giorgio Cavalon, Mark Rothko, De Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, Sam Francis, Robert Motherwell, Ed Ruscha, Rauschenberg and Joan Mitchell. In 1992 Ferran Cano and Ernst Beyeler offered a show at Art Basel and to paint for a year at the Miro Foundation in Mallorca. In 1991 was on his way to paint with Joan Mitchell in Giverny, when she fell ill canceling the residency. While in Los Angeles Quigley worked on commercials, films and music videos with Madona, Paula Abdul, Prince, Tom Petty, Kobe Bryant, Outkast, Propaganda Films, Red Dog Films, Squeak Pictures, Dick Buckley, Bill Livingston, Nigel Dick and David Fincher. He was painting and often selling to sports figures like Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, Shaquille Oneal, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Magic Johnson. Moving back to New York city in 1999 Quigley gained more notoriety hosting art shows while making introductions to brands like Grey Goose /Red Bull and Milk Studios. On birthday, April 29, 1999 he randomly poured the first Grey Goose Red Bull creating the now infamous cocktail at his art show for over 100 guests. Skrapper was created that same year soon after meeting director Eric Heimbold and Pete Francis, founder of the band Dispatch. Skrapper started promoting Dispatch concerts and designing the album "Who We Living for" in 2000. Quigley performed as a character named Mr. Wiggles and continued designing stages for the band from 1999-2006. In 2007 in a concert raising money for Aids in Zimbabwe, Dispatch became the only independent band in US history to sell out Madison Square Garden. In 2004 Quigley helped edit and produce artist's Michael Dweck's book, "Montauk: The End" with his Skrapper partner Jeremy Miller. In 2005 along with Jeff Gaites, Quigley founded and gave a show he was curating at Milk Studios for The Sony film "Lords of Dogtown" the name "Boarding for Breast Cancer." In 2007 Vh1 Save the Music honored William Quigley at Lincoln Center along with President William and Hillary Clinton, Jon Bonjovi, Roger Waters, Mariah Carey, John Sykes and John Mayer. Skrapper continues to partner with forward thinking brands and collaborating with organizations focused on equality. In 2016 had the honor of being invited to play an integral part of promoting the 75 year old tradition of, The East Hampton Artists and Writers Charity Softball Game started by his heroes Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner and Willem De Kooning. The game provides additional awareness and support for 4 Hampton charities: Eleanor Whitmore Childcare Center, Phoenix House, The Retreat and East End Hospice. He has painted Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama and made a random Donald Trump portrait in 2006, bought by the future President in 2013 at an East Hampton event supporting Guild Hall and Soldier Ride.
Skrapper continues to raise as much as possible for Education, Health Care, and Veterans.
