about
Brad Bunkers has forged a distinct visual language grounded in intrigue. His unusual sense of the mysterious combined with his playful interpretations of ordinary subjects produce an uneasy familiarity on the canvas.
HAUNTED BY DIFFICULT
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Through art Bunkers surveys the elemental emotions found within the human experience. Distorted contours, blank, mask-like faces, and engaging gestures convey subtle but intense emotions. He often recalls the stark landscapes, ordinary subjects, and rural themes of his rural upbringing to draw inspiration. By mimicking the composition of amateur photography, an intimacy is created between the subject and the viewer, which is direct and at times awkward.
The characters in the paintings are archetypal, lacking distinct features and individual definition, at the same time reminding the viewer of a specific person or place. According to Bunkers, “the viewer brings to the equation a personal perspective, which is added to the anonymous subjects to produce meaning. My work is not about communicating literal ideas; it’s about posing questions in a mysterious fashion.”
Bunkers approaches art as a spontaneous act, focusing on process rather than product. His paintings are merely the physical evidence of this process. By not setting his sights on end results, he becomes free to explore the many visual principles and possibilities within painting. This creative evolution is his reasoning for making art.
Bunkers currently resides in Montana with his family and a pack of wolves.
ACCLAIM
“These paintings can seem rough around the edges, maybe even a little reckless, but they are always emotive. Moreover, the subject matter is reminiscent of great American short fiction.”
“Bunkers is haunted by difficult beauty, with finding it and depicting it. Rescuing the mundane is a poet’s notion; Bunkers is a painter with a poet’s sensibilities.”
“This work evokes so much emotion it is hard not to feel like you have witnessed these scenes before. They are subtle and familiar. I hear all kinds of music when I look at his pieces. Each one seems to have its own soundtrack.”
“Painting by painting, Bunkers is carving out a very unique promontory for himself. He is equally devoted to craft and experimentation; he is a painter constantly challenging himself, challenging his form.”
