William Hawkins was an African American urban painter and engaged citizen of Columbus, Ohio, where he lived for most of his life.

Born in 1895 in Kentucky, Hawkins initially enjoyed painting streets, landscapes, and animals, as well as fantastical creatures inspired by his boundless imagination and popular culture. Earning a living as a handyman, he collected found objects that he used in his artwork.

It wasn't until 1979 that Hawkins devoted himself entirely to art. He was 87 years old when his works were first exhibited at a fair in Ohio, thanks to the intervention of the artist Lee Garrett. Several major group and solo exhibitions followed, securing his international recognition.

His work is featured in major private collections and in the collections of museums such as the American Folk Art Museum (New York), the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the High Museum of Art (Atlanta).