WILLIAM THR BECHTOLD

JULY — SEPTEMBER 2026

"I am so grateful for what HEADS has brought to the Manchester art scene and the community. They are doing incredible work by opening doors for artists like me, giving us the opportunity to collaborate with premium spaces and be seen. Art is so vital for people—it uplifts our minds and surroundings—it connects us, sparks conversations, and brings life to a space, so having it accessible in a place like Selfridges in Manchester is incredibly powerful. The fact that their team saw my work as a perfect match for their space is a massive compliment. Knowing what an institution Selfridges is to Manchester and what it means to the city makes seeing my art here a truly surreal milestone. This level of support makes me feel incredibly proud and valued—and it proves that Manchester’s creative scene isn't just growing, it's taking over." 

  "Supporting local artists is about preserving the very soul of a city. Our work doesn't exist in a vacuum; it directly reflects the identity, the shared experiences, and the true energy of the people who live here. When major institutions back homegrown talent, they aren't just exhibiting art—they are validating the culture of the city itself and showing that our stories deserve to be told on the highest stages. Investing in local creators keeps the city's unique identity alive and vibrant, ensuring that our cultural spaces are shaped by the people who actually breathe life into them every single day. When you support a local artist, you are directly fuelling the creative heartbeat of the city."  

"For me, the journey into abstract painting represents an organic evolution of my creative mind. Having moved to Manchester over a decade ago, my self-directed practice crystallized in 2021 as a vital space to navigate the conflictual dialogue between the self and the external world. Today, my paintings operate at the intersection of sonic texture, visceral depth, and philosophical inquiry—a continuous exploration of identity and the perpetual transformation of the mind. Each piece begins not with a preconceived plan, but with pure, unforced intuition, allowing the work to follow a natural flow of growth, both spiritually and physically.

These paintings are tactile records of time and movement, built through layered acrylics that capture the exact tension between seeking internal quiet and navigating the unfiltered chaos of the world. The transition from the solitude of my studio to this major showcase with HEADS at Selfridges marks a definitive shift. It takes this process of internal exploration and mental expansion and projects it squarely into the city's cultural landscape, proving that the most compelling modern art doesn't come from a formula—it comes from the expanding, unfiltered rhythm of life."