Paris-based digital artist William Mapan merges traditional art practices with generative code, creating deeply personal and introspective works that bridge digital and physical realms. His journey began with an early fascination with video games and computers, later evolving through studies in informatics and visual arts. Initially working in advertising, he shifted toward artistic experimentation, finding community and inspiration within the Generative Art movement around 2016. Mapan has also been teaching creative coding and generative art at Gobelin Paris, leading school of digital creation and visual arts.
Influenced by Expressionism and Impressionism, and inspired by his child's unrestricted creativity, Mapan incorporates physical sketches and mark-making into algorithms that reflect his emotions and personality. His key series include Dragons, Anticyclones, Sketchbook A&B, and Distance (made for LACMA). He sees the computer as an extension of himself, enhancing the nuanced expression achievable by the human hand.