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Some of Bralds’ most beloved works are his fanciful renditions of cats with
their humorous, human-like traits. There’s mystery behind a cat’s eyes in the
divinely inspired art of Braldt Bralds. Masterfully creating art that is “of
this world, but not in this world,” is his unique artistic talent in paintings
that range from realistic, humorous portrayals of cats, to contemplative and
detailed still lifes.
Born in the Netherlands into an art-loving culture, Braldt Bralds was very
influenced by the works of Dutch Masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer. He
first learned about illustration art from magazine advertisements while still
a young child, and from that moment, his course was set. At twelve, he began
attending the Grafische School in Rotterdam, where he was instructed in
graphic arts and the printing trade. Aside from this formal training, Braldt
is primarily self-taught.
Once out of school, Braldt became a successful illustrator in Holland.
In 1978, on his first day’s visit to New York, he was commissioned to paint a
cover for Time Magazine. Since then Braldt’s career has been one success after
another.
His work has appeared in Time, Newsweek, Esquire, The Washington Post,
Playboy, Der Spiegel, Omni, Rolling Stone, Atlantic Monthly and National
Geographic. Braldt has illustrated book covers for publishers around the
world, including M. Zimmer Braldley’s Mists of Avalon. Advertising campaigns
include Levi-Strauss, Grand Marnier, Alfa Romeo, Pirelli, IBM, Celestial
Seasonings and Crabtree & Evelyn. He has designed stamp sets for the United
Nations’ and the United States Postal Service.
In 1989, Braldt received the Clio award for Best Illustration. He has earned
numerous gold and silver medals from art director clubs around the country,
including the Hamilton King Award from the Society of Illustrators in New York
City. In 1993, the International Advisory Board of the Art Institute
International established a “Braldt Bralds Illustration Scholarship.” Braldt
taught at New York’s School of Visual Arts, and has lectured and conducted
workshops in cities throughout the world. In 1997, the Dutch Society of
Illustrators inducted him into the Hall of Fame for his lifetime achievement
in the field of international illustration.
As his illustration career flourished, Braldt continued to develop his fine
art. In 1998, he began a body of work, portrayals of exquisitely detailed
stones, which debuted in a one-man show, “Stone Lifes,” at the Gerald Peters
Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2003, he joined the 707 Contemporary
Gallery in Santa Fe and was given a solo show, “Souvenirs,” in August, 2004.
Newer work includes collaboration with ceramic artist Heidi Loewen. After Ms.
Loewen constructs, low-fires, then smoke-finishes large, shallow porcelain
vessels, Braldt paints trompe l’oeil effects on their surfaces.
In 2004 Braldt joined the Andreeva Portraits Gallery in Santa Fe and the
Calvin Charles Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Andreeva Gallery begins its
painting academy in 2005, where Braldt will be conducting a painting workshop
in the spring. He was also included in Andreeva Gallery’s trompe l’oeil group
exhibit in December, 2004.
In November 2004, Braldt was the guest of honor and featured artist for an
exhibition produced by Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine. “Die Kunst des Der
Spiegel”, a compilation of their cover art from the last 50 years, tours
cities in Europe and eventually reaches New York in 2006.
Braldt’s work was included in the Arcadia Gallery’s group exhibit at the Miami
Art Fair in January, 2005, and in the spring he will be in Arcadia’s small
works show at their Soho gallery in New York. Most recently Braldt has joined
the Turner Carroll Gallery, of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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