Mississippi Monday | Bradley Gordon
It's #MississippiMonday and today we are bringing you an interview, studio tour and samples of work from one of our favorite Mississippi painters, Bradley Gordon. From the Apothecary in Fondren, Double Decker Craft Fair, One Night Stand Art Show in Oxford to Delta Magazine in 2015 - these are just a tiny number of the places you may have seen Bradley's work before. And, if by some wild chance you haven't had the pleasure, we are so glad to be able to share it with you here today! Read on for our interview with Bradley + more...
Who/what exactly is Bradley Gordon?
I’m a Delta boy originally from Clarksdale, MS that has somehow been lucky enough to stumble into a career of creating paintings for a living. I now live in Oxford, MS with my two favorite girls - My wife Anne-Marie and our daughter Genevieve.
How did you all get started and what was the inspiration to take the small business leap?
I’ve painted/created my entire life and have always had a deep connection with nature - perhaps from my childhood spent on a farm. It was after I moved home from Japan that I decided to give a go at painting full time. I’ve been so very fortunate to have been doing this full time for about 6 years now.
How does Mississippi play a role in your business?
No matter where I’ve lived/traveled/explored, I’ve always used Mississippi and the artists of all mediums and genres from here, as my benchmark. Some of the world’s greatest artists have come out of our state. It’s an honor to be included in that group and with that comes a desire to keep pushing and producing what is hopefully, quality work.
What are your goals for your brand?
I hope to show my work internationally on a consistent basis and share a bit of my take on the South and Mississippi by doing so.
What is your background?
I have a BFA in Art Education from The University of Mississippi. I taught art for about 10 years before painting full time. I was a resident artist at Scall Art Studios in Taichung City, Taiwan and now work daily out of my studio in Water Valley, MS. I’m a current board member of The Crossroads Cultural Arts Center in Clarksdale, MS.
Where do you all find inspiration?
Life, nature, friends, family, rhythms, music and other artists.
What do you all like to do when you aren't creating/painting?
Practice my ninja moves with my daughter! I’m a pretty simple guy - I enjoy spending time with my family, being outside, and playing music occasionally.
What are your favorite local places to shop and dine?
I love Snackbar and The End of All Music in Oxford. BTC Grocery, The Crawdad Hole and you never know what you’ll find at Rip It Up Vintage Shop in Water Valley!
What are some of the reasons you call Mississippi home?
It’s always called me back. In all of my travels, as I mentioned before, I’ve always compared the places I visited to Mississippi. It’s allowed me to see the world from a pretty unique perspective. It’s a part of me and who I am. I feel very lucky to have been born and raised here.
How do you think what you are doing is helping to shape your local community as well as the image of Mississippi?
I don’t think it’s for me to say how I’m shaping things here in Mississippi. I can only hope that those who come into contact with my work will leave with something positive to share.
View Snapshots of Bradley's Studio below
CLICK ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE:
Want to learn more about Bradley and where + how to find his work?
Find him in all these places below:
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
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