Anthem of the Sun

“Anthem is a visual tapestry transcending its extraordinary psychedelic origins. An unparalleled masterpiece of its era, the piece is a manifestation of intense psychedelic experimentalism - synaesthesic fusion, and Eastern philosophy merge with the avant-garde of San Francisco's 1960s counterculture. The painting's spontaneous emergence at this epicenter of history, infused the era’s vibrant, boundary breaking energy and chaos into an intense and harmonious realization.”

– Dr. Michael Pearce, Art Historian

Herein, we’ve assembled galleries and media for you to enjoy.

Anthem of the Sun was born in a San Francisco victorian in Haight-Ashbury in January of 1968.

Bill, a close friend and former housemate of the Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh and Tom Constanten (TC), was asked to paint their second and upcoming album.

Bill had bonded with Phil and TC over their shared interest in classical, avant-garde, and experimental music while in university in Las Vegas, and later San Francisco.

Bill was inspired to create the artwork after a New Year’s Eve trip, where he and TC took a heavy dose of ayahuasca with an extra helping of LSD in the Valley of Fire outside of Las Vegas.

Bill channeled the experience into the painting's representation of the transcendent energy of a Dead concert and to reflect his journey through ego-less inner space. After several months the unfinished painting was used for production for the album.

Years later, the painting returned to Bill, he finished missing the exquisite details, added the background, and the hand carved custom frame.