The Noroton Gallery & Frame Studio, LLC - Artists

Willard Bond was born in the Pacific Northwest in 1926 and grew up on Lake Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho. After working with the US Forest Service, Willard joined the US Navy. He acquired experience on battleships, cruisers, and destroyer escorts while serving in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war ended, Willard spent several years exploring a variety of artistic paths which led him from making ceramics in Soho to building Buckminster Fuller-inspired geodesic domes in the tropical rain forest.

In 1976, Willard returned to New York, where he began painting square-rigged ships. The acceptance of his marine paintings by the South Street Seaport Museum coincided with the Bicentennial and OP Sail. As he continued to explore sailing and the sea, Willard's inspiration moved from square-riggers to the contemporary racing scene with its spinnakers, bloopers, and grinders. The advent and design of today's sleek racing boats coupled with Willard's artistic interpretation have proven to be a perfect match. Willard was fortunate enough to become involved with the Freedom syndicate during the 1984 America's Cup series. Since then, he has continued to get onboad experience on world-class racing yachts.

Willard has studied at the Chicago Art Institute, the Art Student's League of New York, and is a graduate of Pratt Institute. He is a fellow member of the American Society of Marine Artists. Willard has been featured in Sea History, Nautical Quarterly, and The Yacht.