Bill Owens
A short biography about Bill and his work along with a visual timeline.
A Short Biography
Bill Owens was born in San Jose, CA September 25, 1938. Bill with his cameras is known as the foremost chronicler of Suburbia, made famous with the publication of his book by that name in 1972.
In 1983 after working several years as a photojournalist, publishing a series of books and producing two children Bill began his brewing career. He established Buffalo Bill’s, one of the nation’s first Brew Pubs which he operated until he sold it in 1994.
From 1993 to 1995 Bill published BEER the magazine. Moved by the spirits Bill went on to found The American Distilling Institute (ADI), the oldest and largest organization of small batch, independently owned distillers in the United States which he continues to lead and cultivate.
Astonishingly, all the while Bill has continued to make, exhibit and sell his photographs.
A Visual Timeline
1938
1939
El Cerrito, California, 1940
Family Partrait, Citrus Heights, California, 1945
My Brother and I, Citrus Heights, California, 1952
Graduation from Elementary School, 1952
Changing the Sprinklers, Citrus Heights, California, 1955
Citrus Heights, California, 1957
High School Clown on the Gymnastic Team, 1958
1957
Alliance France ID Card, 1960
Hitchhike Around the World, 1961
Peace Corps, 1961
Teaching Credential, Chico State, 1963
Photo Journalism, 1968
1971
Bill, Janet, Andrew and Eric Owens, 1972
“Our Kind of People”, 1975
Photography Baseball Cards by Mike Mandel, 1975
Publish “Working”, 1976
Documentary Photography, 1978
The Beginning of “Leisure”, 1979
Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale, 1985
Buffalo Bill’s Brewery Cover of “How to Build a small Brewery”
Beer: The Magazine, 1993-1995
Reissue “Suburbia”, 1999
Digital Odyssey, 2000
Italy, 2001
Trip Across the USA, 2003
Art Opening, 2004
Distilling, 2004
“Leisure”, 2004
Bill at Work, 2005
Bill’s Home Office Staff Meeting with Amber Hasselbring, 2006
New York City, 2007
Bill Owens & Claudia Zanfi at Solo Show, Bristol, 2008
Amsterdam, 2009
Hayward, California, 2010
