For more than 40 years William Schaaf, a former Florida Fellowship recipient, has explored the mysterious symbolism of equine imagery in his prints, paintings and sculptures. For Schaaf the horse figure serves as an iconic metaphor for power, sensuality, transition and beauty. The work is captivating in its energy, as well as its physicality, and is oftentimes sensual and playful. It embodies contemporary expressions couched in the historical references of cave paintings from Dordogne, France, ancient Greek sculpture, T'ang Dynasty ceramics, and indeed each succeeding period of human history, a history interwoven with the equine image.

Through the image of the horse, Schaaf evokes the mystery and beauty of natural form that has long captured the imaginations of viewers. His sculptures are often votive in nature, or serve as fetish pieces and funeraille urns, all of which are inspired by the equine art of various ancient cultures.