Born in Los Angeles, William Leavitt emerged as a significant figure in the West Coast conceptual art movement during the late 1960s. His practice developed alongside peers who sought to deconstruct the art object, though he maintained a distinct focus on the theatricality and artifice inherent in Southern California's cultural landscape.

Leavitt’s work frequently incorporates stock environments, drawing inspiration from film sets, stage design, and local literature. His medium-spanning practice includes meticulously staged photographs, paintings, and immersive installations that evoke the feeling of a set waiting for a narrative to unfold. By utilizing the visual language of cinema, he highlights the intersection between reality and the constructed environments of the entertainment industry.

Despite his influence on subsequent generations of artists and his inclusion in major private collections, Leavitt has historically maintained a low public profile. His work continues to be studied for its unique contribution to conceptualism, specifically regarding how the aesthetics of Los Angeles have shaped contemporary artistic discourse.