Robert Brawley
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Robert Brawley
Biography
Born: 1937
Died: 2006
Bob Brawley started his career as an abstract expressionist but evolved into a masterful painter of symbolically rich still-life’s, figure compositions and portraits. He attended several art schools and received a BFA and MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, and a Fulbright grant to study at the Academy of Fine Art in Florence, Italy. He exhibited nationally and held several teaching positions over his lifetime. From 1988-1993 he was the chair of the Art Department at the University of Kansas. His work is in many public and private collections.
Selected Collections The Arkansas Art Center The Art Institute of Chicago The Beach Museum of Art Kansas State University The Mulvane Art Museum The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art The San Francisco Art Institute The Smithsonian American Art Museum The Sprint Corporation
Bob Brawley started his career as an abstract expressionist but evolved into a masterful painter of symbolically rich still-life’s, figure compositions and portraits. He attended several art schools and received a BFA and MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, and a Fulbright grant to study at the Academy of Fine Art in Florence, Italy. He exhibited nationally and held several teaching positions over his lifetime. From 1988-1993 he was the chair of the Art Department at the University of Kansas. His work is in many public and private collections.
Selected Collections The Arkansas Art Center The Art Institute of Chicago The Beach Museum of Art Kansas State University The Mulvane Art Museum The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art The San Francisco Art Institute The Smithsonian American Art Museum The Sprint Corporation
Artist Statement
Robert Julius Brawley (1937 - April 14, 2006) was an American painter, known for his rich still life and figure works.
Brawley gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1963 and a Master of Fine Arts in 1965 from the San Francisco Art Institute. As a student, he was an abstract expressionist painter, but after happening upon the work of Flemish realists, while studying at the Academy of Fine Arts, in Florence, Italy, and departing for Northern Europe to view more Netherlandish work, he turned toward representational painting, primarily still lifes and figure work. Many of his still lifes are symbolic and, although often described as a realist or hyperrealist, in a 1988 interview he remarked, "I don't think I'm a realist.... I'm an illusionist."
His works are on display in the National Museum of American Art, Art Institute of Chicago, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri, and other venues. His work has been mentioned in many books and magazine articles.
He was a professor, and chairman of the art department at the University of Kansas.
Brawley died in 2006 after a six-month battle with cancer.
Brawley gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1963 and a Master of Fine Arts in 1965 from the San Francisco Art Institute. As a student, he was an abstract expressionist painter, but after happening upon the work of Flemish realists, while studying at the Academy of Fine Arts, in Florence, Italy, and departing for Northern Europe to view more Netherlandish work, he turned toward representational painting, primarily still lifes and figure work. Many of his still lifes are symbolic and, although often described as a realist or hyperrealist, in a 1988 interview he remarked, "I don't think I'm a realist.... I'm an illusionist."
His works are on display in the National Museum of American Art, Art Institute of Chicago, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri, and other venues. His work has been mentioned in many books and magazine articles.
He was a professor, and chairman of the art department at the University of Kansas.
Brawley died in 2006 after a six-month battle with cancer.