| 1919 | born in New York City, educated at Phillips Academy and Yale University |
| 1942-46 | Military service in Africa and Italy |
| 1947-48 | directs Copley Galleries in Beverly Hills, CA (with John Ployardt) |
| 1947 | begins to paint |
| 1951 | moves to Paris |
| 1963 | returns to New York City |
| 1992 | moves to Key West, Florida where he lives until his death in May 1996 |
Solo shows (selection)
| 2016 | De Menil Collection, Houston (catalogue raisonné) |
| 2015 | Drawings: 1962 – 1973, Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York Galerie 1900 – 2000, Paris, France |
| 2014 | William Copley: Paintings and Mirrors, Michael Fuchs Galerie, Berlin, Germany |
| 2013 | Finally We Laugh Linn Lühn, Düsseldorf, Germany (Kat.) Confiserie Copley, Basel, Switzerland |
| 2012 | The Patriotism of Cply and All That, Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York William N. Copley (Retrospective), Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, Germany (C) Reflection on a Past Life, Linn Lühn, Düsseldorf, Germany |
| 2011 | See Yourself as Lovers See You, Galerie Klaus Gerrit Friese, Stuttgart, Germany |
| 2010 | X-Rated, Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York (C) |
| 2009 | Linn Lühn, Köln Western Songs, El Sourdog Hex, Berlin Galerie Klaus Gerrit Friese, Stuttgart (K) |
| 2007 | Linn Lühn, Köln |
| 2006 | Nolan/Eckman Gallery, New York Galerie manus presse, Stuttgart |
| 2005 | Galerie Onrust, Amsterdam |
| 2004 | Copley - au bonheur des dames, 1958-1990, MAMCO, Musée des Arts Moderne et Contemporain, Genf Galerie Daniel Blau, Munich |
| 2003 | Johann König, Berlin Nolan/Eckman Gallery, New York Easy to Read Storybook, BAWAG Foundation, Wien |
| 2002 | Drawings 1956-1994 Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich |
| 2001 | Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht, Niederlande William Copley, Herning Kunstmuseum, Dänemark Nolan/Eckman Gallery, New York |
| 2000 | Phyllis Kind Gallery, New York |
| 1999 | Galerie Fred Jahn, München L.A.C., Lieu d’Art Contemporain, Sigean, Frankreich |
| 1998 | Galerie Lelong, Zürich Galerie Onrust, Amsterdam Nolan/Eckman Gallery, New York |
| 1997 | Ulmer Museum, Ulm Galerie Fred Jahn, München |
| 1996 | Nolan/Eckman Gallery, New York, NY |
| 1995 | Kestner-Gesellschaft, Hannover (Retrospektive) Galerie Lelong, Zürich |
| 1994 | Nolan/Eckman Gallery, New York, NY |
| 1993 | Galerie Zell am See, Schloss Rosenberg, Österreich Haus Am Lützowplatz, Berlin |
| 1991 | David Nolan Gallery, New York Galerie Fred Jahn, München Phyllis Kind Gallery, New York & Chicago |
| 1990 | Galerie Klewan, München Phyllis Kind Gallery, Chicago |
| 1988 | Galerie 1900/2000, Paris |
| 1987 | Kewenig Galerie, Frechen Phyllis Kind Gallery, New York |
| 1986 | The Tomb of the Unknown Whore, Installation at Workspace, New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York |
| 1985 | Phyllis Kind Gallery, New York The Quay Gallery, San Francisco |
| 1983 | Post-Raphaelite Painting by William N. Copley, Reinhard Onnasch Ausstellungen, Berlin Phyllis Kind Gallery, New York |
| 1982 | Phyllis Kind Gallery, Chicago |
| 1981 | CPLY, Galerie Klewan, München Künstler Werkstatt Lothringerstrasse, Munich Phyllis Kind Gallery, New York Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York |
| 1980-81 | Traveling Retrospective: Badischer Kunstverein e.v., Karlsruhe Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven Musee National D’Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris Kunsthalle Bern, Bern |
| 1980 | Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York |
| 1979 | CPLY: Reflections on a Past Life, Institute for the Arts, Rice University, Houston CPLY/X-Rated Paintings, Galerie Fassbender, München |
| 1978-79 | Variations on a Theme by Francis Picabia, David Stuart Galleries, Los Angeles Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York Galerie Rudolf Zwirner, Köln |
| 1978 | Galerie Fassbender, München Galerie Springer, Berlin Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York |
| 1977 | Phyllis Kind Gallery, Chicago |
| 1976 | Washington Art Association, Washington, CT David Stuart Galleries, Los Angeles Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York |
| 1974 | Western Songs, Onnasch Galerie, Köln Onnasch Gallery, New York Moore College of Art, Philadelphia CPLY/X-Rated, New York Cultural Center, New York |
| 1973 | Gallerie Il Fauna, Turin |
| 1972 | Gallery Suzanne Saxe, San Francisco Galerie Iolas, Milan & Paris Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York David Stuart Galleries, Los Angeles |
| 1971 | Nouns, Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York |
| 1970 | Galerie Aspects, Brüssel Galerie Neuendorf, Köln Galerie Springer, Berlin |
| 1969 | Ballads, Galerie Iolas, Genf Gallerie de Leone, Venedig Merida Gallery, Louisville, KY |
| 1967 | Bodley Gallery, New York Homage to Robert W. Service, Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York Galerie Iolas, Paris |
| 1966 | Copley - Entertainment for Men, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam Galerie Iolas, Paris Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York |
| 1965 | Allan Frumkin Gallery, Chicago Southwestern College, Chula Vista, CA Louisiana Gallery, Houston |
| 1963 | Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York Les Suffragettes Erotiques de Bill Copley, Galerie Iris Clert, Paris The Hanover Gallery, London Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York |
| 1962 | Gallerie Schwarz, Mailand |
| 1961 | The Institute of Contemporary Arts, London Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York |
| 1960 | Galleria Cavallino, Venedig Galleria d'Arte del Naviglio, Mailand Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York |
| 1959 | Galerie Furstenberg, Paris |
| 1958 | Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York |
| 1956 | Galerie du Dragon, Paris Alexander Iolas Gallery, New York |
| 1954 | Galleria Montenapoleone, Mailand |
| 1953 | Nina Dausset, Paris |
| 1951 | Royer's Book Shop, Los Angeles |
Group shows (selection)
| 2015 | The Violent Crab, David Roberts Art Foundation, London, Greatbritain L'Impasse Ronsin, ADAA Art Fair, Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York Viewer Discretion: Children of Bataille, Stux & Haller Gallery, New York The Shadow is Taken, Algus Greenspon, New York |
| 2014 | Pop Abstraction, Fredericks and Fraser Gallery and Garth Greenan Gallery, New York Purple States, Andrew Edlin Gallery Live and Let Die, Modern Art, London, England Alexander the Great: The Iolas Gallery 1955 - 1987, Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York Miami Art Basel, Sadie Coles HQ, Miami The Surrealist Bungalow, Linn Lühn, Düsseldorf, Germany What Nerve!: Alternative Figures in American Art, 1960 to the Present, RISD Museum, Providence |
| 2013 | Re-View, Hauser and Wirth Gallery, London, England Gang Bust: William N. Copley & Big Fat Black Cock. Inc, Venus Over Manhattan, New York Masculine / Feminine, Michael Fuchs Galerie, Berlin, Germany Building the Sukka, House of Gaga, Mexico City, Mexico |
| 2012 | Interiors, Andrew Kreps Gallery, New York |
| 2011 | William N. Copley and Andreas Slominski – X-RATED, Me Collectors Room, Berlin The ADAA Art Fair, New York |
| 2009 | And Other Essays, Bard College, Annandale-on Hudson Exile on Main St., Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht Jr. and Son’s, Zach Feuer Gallery, New York |
| 2008 | Diana und Aktaion: Der Verbotene Blick auf die Nacktheit, Museum Kunst Palast, Düsseldorf Karl Bohrmann/William N. Copley, Galerie Klaus Gerrit Friese, Stuttgart Carte Blanche III: “Gedichte der Fakten,” Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst, Leipzig Liebe, Love, Paare, Gustav-Lübcke-Museum, Hamm, Germany Museum im Kulturspeicher, Würzburg Ulmer Museum, Ulm Mirror, Mirror, Edward Thorp Gallery, New York |
| 2007 | Deutsche und Amerikanische Malerei, Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden Rockers Island: Olbricht Collection, Museum Folkwang, Essen Sixties! Art, Fashion, Design, Film and Photography, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag AFFINITIES, Deutsche Guggenheim, Berlin |
| 2006 | Die anderen Bilder, Museum der Stadt, Ratingen Ele-Mental, David Nolan Gallery, New York Six Feet Under: Autopsie unseres Umgangs mit Toten, Kunstmuseum Bern Models and Prototypes, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Saint Louis L’Amateur d’estampes, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Tourcoing, France Collage Effect, 1301PE, Los Angeles Nolan/Eckman Gallery, New York |
| 2005 | Internationale Zeichner, Galerie Biedermann, Munich Bilderwechsel III: Amerikanische Malerei, Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden |
| 2004 | FUNNY CUTS: Cartoons und Comics in der zeitgenössische Kunst, Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart Eröffnungsausstellung Sammlung Frieder Burda, Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden Christmas Art Gifts, Artiscope, Brussels Baume, Galerie Biedermann, Munich |
| 2003 | Imagine: Selections from the Permanent Collection, Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami |
| 2001 | Kunst Sammeln I: Werke zeitgenössischer Kunst aus den Sammlungen von Cramm, Falckenburg, Kalkmann Kunstverein Bad Salzdetfurth, Bodenburg, Germany Museum unserer Wünsche, Museum Ludwig, Cologne |
| 2000 | Prints, Nolan/Eckman Gallery, New York Im Gegenüber: Landschaften, Stilleben, Portraits, Galerie von Braunbehrens, Munich |
| 1998 | Summer Group Show. Nolan/Eckman Gallery, New York Imagined World, David Nolan Gallery, New York |
| 1997 | Magie der Zahl in der Kunst des 20. Jahrhunderts, Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart Spiral Village, Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht |
| 1996 | Hommage a Copley, Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich Think, Galerie Brigitte Ihsen, Cologne Disegni americani degli anni ottanta: 15 artisti, Galleria Milano, Milan |
| 1995 | Bunnies: A Group Show, Nolan/Eckman Gallery, New York Drawing the Line: Reappraising Drawing Past and Present, Southampton City Art Gallery, Southampton, England; Manchester City Art Galleries, England; Ferens Art Gallery, Hull, England; Whitechapel Art Gallery, London |
| 1994 | Old Glory: The American Flag in Contemporary Art, Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art |
| 1989 | Bilderstreit: Widerspruch, Einheit und Fragment in der Kunst seit 1960, Museum Ludwig in den Rheinhallen der Kölner Messe, Cologne |
| 1988 | Gran Pavese, The Flag Project, MuHKA Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen, Antwerp Roger Brown, William Copley, Duncan Hannah, Gloria Luria Gallery, Miami |
| 1987 | The Amused Eye: A National Sampling of Humor in Art, The Evanston Art Center, USA |
| 1986 | Column, Galerie Jule Kewenig, Frechen, Germany Europa/Amerika: die Geschichte einer kunstlerischen Faszination seit 1940, Museum Ludwig, Cologne |
| 1985 | Cinquante ans de dessins americains, 1930–1980, Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris Paravents, Schloss Lorsfeld, Kerpen, Germany |
| 1984 | Auto and Culture, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Detroit Institute of Arts |
| 1983 | Looking at Women, Artemesia Gallery, Chicago Festival of the Arts, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA Contemporary Paintings from the Weatherspoon Art Gallery. University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC The Last Laugh, Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center, Portsmouth, OH |
| 1982 | documenta 7, Kassel, Germany The Erotic Impulse. Roger Litz Gallery, New York |
| 1981 | Westkunst, Museen der Stadt Köln, Cologne |
| 1980 | American Painting of the Sixties and Seventies: The Real, Ideal and the Fantastic, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (and other venues) The Figurative Tradition and The Whitney Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York |
| 1978 | Aspekte der 60er Jahre: aus der Sammlung Reinhard Onnasch, Nationalgalerie, Berlin American Nude, Harold Reed Gallery, New York Box Museum, Cooper Hewitt Museum, New York |
| 1977 | Artist’s Renderings of Paintings, Pinoteca di Brera, Milan, Musée du Louvre, Paris The Dada/Surrealist Heritage, Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA Art Outside the Mainstream/Bad Painting, The New Museum, New York |
| 1976 | The William Seitz Memorial Exhibition, Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, NJ |
| 1975 | Three Generations of the American Nude, New York Cultural Center, New York |
| 1972 | documenta 5, Kassel, Germany |
| 1971 | Erotic Art, The Art Center of the New School for Social Research, The New Museum, New York |
| 1970 | Hot Show, Cordier & Ekstrom Gallery, New York Copley, Brauner and Magritte, Louisiana Gallery, Houston Box Top Art, Illinois State University, Bloomington, IL |
| 1967 | Around the Automobile, Museum of Modern Art, New York Mixed Masters, University of St. Thomas, Houston |
| 1966 | Hommage à Caissa: Exhibition for the Chess Foundation of the Duchamp Fund, Cordier & Ekstrom Gallery, New York Surrealist Exhibition, University of California, Santa Barbara Le Portrait, Galerie Claude Bernard, Paris 25 Years of Art in San Diego, La Jolla Museum of Art, La Jolla, CA |
| 1965 | Pop Art, Nouveau Réalisme, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels Surrealist Exhibition, Byron Gallery, New York Visiting Artists at the Tamarind Lithography Workshop, Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles Group Show, Dwan Gallery, Los Angeles Whence Pop, Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington, NY |
| 1964 | Selections from the L. M. Asher Collection, University Art Gallery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque New Directions in American Painting, Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA Nieuwe realisten, Haags Gemeentemuseum, The Hague The Maremont Collection, Washington Gallery of Modern Art, Washington, D.C. Le Surréalisme: Sources, Histoire, Affinities. Galerie Charpentier, Paris |
| 1963 | Pop Art USA, Oakland Museum of Art, Oakland, CA XIX Salon de Mai, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris 18ième Salon de Réalitiés Nouvelles, Musée Municipal d’Art Moderne, Paris Paris Lettriste, Galerie Schmidt, Paris |
| 1962 | Collage out of California, Pasadena Art Museum, CA Antagonismes 2: L’objet, Musée des Arts Decoratifs, Palais du Louvre, Pavillon de Marsan, Paris Surrealismus: Phantastische Malerei der Gegenwart, Künstlerhaus, Vienna XVIII Salon de Mai, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris |
| 1961 | XVII Salon de Mai, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris Bewogen beweging-Rorelse i Konsten, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam Moderna Museet, Stockholm |
| 1959 | XVI Salon de Mai, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris Exposition Internationale du Surréalisme, Galerie Daniel Cordier, Paris Arte Fantastica, Museo de Castillo di San Giusto, Trieste, Italy The Maremont Collection at the Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology at Crown Hall, Chicago |
| 1957 | Verzameling Urvater, Rijksmuseum Kröller-Müller, Otterlo, The Netherlands; The Museum and Art Gallery, Leicester, England; City of York Gallery, York, England; The Tate Gallery, London |
| 1956 | XV Salon de Mai, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris Exposition Internationale de l’art actuel, Nagaoka Museum, Nagaoka, Japan |
| 1954 | Americans in Paris, Galerie Arthur Craven, Paris |