the artist

Virginia Bradley

Virginia Bradley

Philadelphia, PA

Virginia Bradley

http://www.virginiabradley.com

Ascension is from "A Fragile Grace" series (2012) which is based on the effects of natural phenomena in relationship to fictional spaces that have been created by man to inhabit/occupy.  In this series the underlying theme is water.  Interpretations of tsunami images from Japan in March 2011, combined with Venetian images are the source material for the departure of the series.  The series correlates horrendous yet poetic images of the aftermath of Japan’s tsunami with classical images from a found book of 15th century engravings of Venice.  These images create a discourse between the centuries of Venice’s struggle not to succumb to the natural forces of nature with the contemporary disaster in Japan and the underlying continuous conflict between nature and the desires of man.  Destroyed planes that were piled like discarded toys in photos of the tsunami aftermath are revived as insect-like carvings seeding the vortex of the storm. Images of the Venice’s Lido are painted in top of work juxtaposing the storm vortex.

Fast Facts

Name: Virginia Bradley

Website: www.virginiabradley.com

Place of Birth: Reading, Pennsylvania

Education:
BFA, University of Miami, 1980, Miami, Florida
MFA, University of South Florida, 1983, Tampa, Florida

Significant or special training:
CORE Artist in Residence, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Glassell School, 1983-85

Notable or memorable instructors or mentors:
Professor Lee Willig, Professor University of Miami
Artist Helen Romeike Wisniewski, Anna Maria Island, FL 

Particular field of study or class work:
Painting

Major influences/admired artists:
Sigmar Polke
Gerhard Richter and Agnes Martin

Favorite materials or media:
Oil, collage, wax, silkscreen, digital print, birch panel, silk

School or university affiliation (when Convention Center acquired artwork):
Professor of Art, University of Delaware

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