Draft:Brad R. Kunkle
Brad R. Kunkle (b. March 26, 1978) is an American artist. His works have been shown in numerous exhibitions in the United States and Europe, as well as the opening title sequence of the Netflix show Ann with an E. [1]
Early life and education
Kunkle was born in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, in 1978. His earliest published drawings were for the cover of a nature conservancy newsletter, Wildlife Activist. Hi Fructose magazine cites the natural world as one of Kunkle's early influences.[1]
Kunkle earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Kutztown University, studying under George Sorrels.[2] A guest lecture by illustrator Donato Giancola in Kunkle's class led to his switch from art education to fine arts. [3]. At Kutztown, Kunkle developed his own style of grisaille or "the use of a limited color palette that was also used by Flemish masters Jan van Eyck and Robert Campin."[4]
Following his formal education, Kunkle began to incorporate gold and silver leaf in his work after visiting the Louvre (Paris) in 2007. [5]
Career
Kunkle moved to New York City and participated in a group show at Arcadia Contemporary Gallery in 2009 called International Introductions. In 2010, he exhibited his first solo show at Arcadia Contemporary Gallery called Against Nature. He has had five additional shows at Arcadia Contemporary in New York and Los Angeles, including his latest, Palisades, in 2024. He also participated in numerous group shows abroad.
Themes
Kunkle's paintings often feature figures adorned with gold leaf set against natural landscapes with silver-leafed skies or backdrops.[6] His compositions explore femininity, nature, and the passage of time.[7]
Over the course of his career, Kunkle's works have been featured in multiple publications, including Lapham's Quarterly, Huffington Post, the Lunar Codex, and A BEHOLDEN PURPOSE, a film directed by Brennan Stasiewicz.
In the December, 2014 issue of American Art Collector, Kunkle cited the influence of writer Joseph Campbell on his work. Kunkle and Campbell share the same date of birth (March 26). [8]
In an April, 2020 interview in American Art Collector, Kunkle points to "magical thinking" as "an endless source of inspiration."[9]
Exhibitions
Museum - Institution
2020 The New Salem Museum. Permanent Collection
2016 Et in Arcadia Ego, group exhibition. New Museum Los Gatos
2015 Transmissions, group exhibition. William Roland Gallery of Fine Art. California Lutheran University.
2015 Kwan Fong Gallery of Art & Culture. Artist in Residence. California Lutheran University.
2013 MESA Contemporary Arts Museum.
Solo
2024 Palisades. Arcadia Contemporary, New York City.
2020 alkәmē. Arcadia Contemporary, Los Angeles.
2016 In/visible. Arcadia Contemporary, Los Angeles.
2014 The Belonging. Arcadia Contemporary, New York City.
2012 Gilded Wilderness. Arcadia Contemporary, New York City.
2010 Against Nature. Arcadia Contemporary, New York City.
Group
2017 Context Art Miami. Arcadia Contemporary
2017 The New Baroque. Booth Gallery, NYC
2015 Context Art Miami. Jonathan Levine Gallery
2015 Paintguide Exhibition. The Unit London
2013 Small Works. Arcadia Contemporary, New York NY
2013 Singlefare 3. RH Gallery, New York NY
2012 Resolve. Joushua Liner Gallery, New York NY
2011 Dark Water. Group Exhibition, Copro Gallery, Los Angeles.
2011 Singlefare. Sloan Fine Art, New York NY
2010 To Sleep Like Ghosts. Strychnin Gallery, Berlin.
2010 Small Works. Arcadia Gallery, New York NY
2009 Small Works. Arcadia Gallery, New York NY
2009 International Introductions. Arcadia Gallery, New York NY
References
- ^ J. L. Schnabel, "Against Nature: The Paintings of Brad Kunkle," Hi Fructose vol. 25, 2010, page 106
- ^ Samantha Levin, "Interview with Brad Kunkle," Beinart Gallery, January 2015.
- ^ Micki Cavanah, "Brad Kunkle: The Masterful Use of Gold & Silver Leaf in Fine Art," The Gilder's Tip (vol 29, no 1), Winter 2015, pages 11-12.
- ^ J. L. Schnabel, "Against Nature: The Paintings of Brad Kunkle," Hi Fructose vol. 25, 2010, page 106
- ^ Micki Cavanah, "Brad Kunkle: The Masterful Use of Gold & Silver Leaf in Fine Art," The Gilder's Tip (vol 29, no 1), Winter 2015, pages 11-12.
- ^ Caro, "Brad Kunkle's Gold Leaf Paintings Featured in New Short Film," Hi Fructose March 15, 2016.
- ^ Samantha Levin, "Interview with Brad Kunkle," Beinart Gallery, January 2015, https://beinart.org/blogs/articles/interview-brad-kunkle
- ^ Joshua Rose, "Belonging & Becoming: Brad Kunkle offers a Multimedia Investigation into the Journeys and Paths of One's Life," American Art Collector, December, 2014, pages 68-71.
- ^ Michael Clawson, "The Alchemist: Brad Kunkle turns lead into silver and gold for his newest show at Arcadia Contemporary," American Art Collector, April 2020.