Williams, of course, was one of the founding ZAP artists, along with R. Crumb. Ultimately transcending the constraints of both by cultivating his mastery of oil paints and forging a career as the preeminent artist among a generation of imagist painters gathering inspiration from the shadowed corners of contemporary culture. Williams singlehandedly became the model of the 'Outsider' art movement, influencing a generation of artists to create without concern for the fine art world, held in contempt by Williams. It's a feeling which had been reciprocated in kind for years by the established fine art community, although Williams' sheer mastery of his craft has caused a grudging retreat.