Brian Bradshaw

Brian Bradshaw was appointed professor of Fine Art at Rhodes University in 1960. His inaugural lecture, The Culture Plan: World Techniques in Uniformity, criticised the reigning orthodoxy of social realism in the UK at the time, and proposed replacing it in South Africa with a strident expressionism. Bradshaw’s use of thick impasto, and his aggressive forms, were weighted with the dignified atmosphere specific to a place, engulfed in sunlight and surrounded by opulent, vibrating colour. His influence is apparent in the work of the artists of the Grahamstown Group and his students, including Robert Brooks, Noel Hodnett, Neil Rodger, Penny Siopis and Christopher Till. 

As Professor of Fine Art at Rhodes University in South Africa, he was a strong influence on the development of fine art in South Africa and amongst other achievements, he founded the Grahamstown Group of Painters.

Just before he died he was made aware that the Arts Council of South Africa were honouring him with a permanent foundation for his work which will be held and exhibited in Pretoria.

All images are courtesy of the Brian Bradshaw Foundation – visit their website:

www.brianbradshawfoundation.org 

The celebrated artist Prof. Brian Bradshaw from Heidelberg, on the Duiwenhoks River in the picturesque hilly landscape of the South Caspian grain region, was honored in a magnificent manner. On Saturday, November 26, was the opening of Bradshaw's exhibition at the Sasol art gallery in Stellenbosch

The Director of Sasol Gallery, Dr. Lydia de Waal, travelled specially to Heidelberg to meet the Prof. Selecting 24 of Bradshaw's oil paintings for the exhibition. The guest speaker, Christopher Till, is a former art student of Bradshaw when Bradshaw was professor of the faculty of fine arts at Grahamstown University. Christopher is honored in art and museum circles for the brilliant way in which he decorated the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg with special depictions and artefacts from that period.

Till spoke equally comfortably in Afrikaans and English about the lasting impact that Prof. Bradshaw, after his arrival from England, had on art in Grahamstown and also in art circles throughout Southern Africa. Some of Bradshaw's former students are today leading exponents of ideas and views that he instilled in them as an instructor. Till, like other critics, considers Bradshaw a heavyweight who should be honored as one of our most gifted landscape painters. At age 88, Bradshaw is still active and continues to create works of high quality, perhaps some of his best yet. An example of this is the painting titled, 'Gaza Genocide', which exudes deep emotions.

Prof. Bradshaw's works are strikingly displayed in the museum, Dr. De Waal and her staff used the space and lighting perfectly for a moving performance. The exhibition ran until 28 January 2012, a gem not to be missed.

Louis Bischoff art expert, painter and collector.