Bradley Kerl

Lives and works in New Orleans, LA, USA

Artist statement

My work is an amalgam of lived and imagined experiences, blending the ordinary with the extraordinary to create images imbued with subtle magic and the uncanny. Drawing inspiration from the mundane encounters of daily life—botanical gardens, handmade signs, or a simple still-life—I aim to elevate the overlooked, crafting paintings that invite viewers to pause and reconsider their surroundings. This freewheeling approach allows me to engage with a wide range of imagery, tethered by a deep respect for the history and materiality of painting while firmly rooted in the immediacy of the present. My paintings strike a balance between the approachable and the enigmatic. On the surface, they present recognizable subjects, but upon closer inspection, layers of meaning and intentional ambiguity emerge, rewarding careful observation. This duality reflects my broader artistic interests: the tension between what is seen and what lies beneath, and how this interplay informs our understanding of the world. To achieve this, I rely on a rigorous iterative process, which often includes drawing, collage, watercolor studies, and digital manipulation, before committing an idea to canvas. Historically, my work aligns with a lineage of painters who draw from their immediate surroundings, including Alex Katz, David Hockney, and Peter Doig. Like these artists, I examine the relationship between personal experience and universal themes, embedding everyday imagery with deeper resonances. At the same...

Artwork