Bio and Art of Braldt Bralds at Ashley's Art Gallery

Braldt Bralds

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

Rick Mullen - owner of Ashley's Fine Art Gallery

















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