Brad Gray was born in Germany to English parents in 1971. He is a well-traveled artist who has lived and worked in various places, including Ireland, England, Saudi Arabia, Borneo, Colorado, Sardinia, Vietnam, South Africa, and China.
After serving in the Marines for two years, Brad pursued his artistic education. He enrolled in the Illustration program at Bristol Technical College and later studied at the Falmouth School of Art in Cornwall, where he honed his skills and knowledge until 1994.
Initially, Brad had a successful career as an illustrator in London before his relocation to Saudi Arabia in 1999. During his time there, he worked as an art teacher alongside his wife for six years. He then settled in South Africa, where he established himself as a full-time artist. His artwork became known for its theatrical and richly symbolic scenes, capturing the attention of viewers.
Brad's artistic journey continued as he embarked on the Swatch residency in Shanghai, China, which provided him with a unique opportunity to immerse himself in the artistic and cultural landscape of the city. Subsequently, he returned to Ireland with his wife and three children. Recently, Brad completed an artist's residency at Cill Rialaig in the west of Ireland, following a three-month residency in Bavaria, Germany.
Throughout his extensive travels and experiences, Brad Gray has developed a diverse artistic perspective influenced by different cultures and environments. His work showcases his ability to create visually compelling and symbolically charged scenes, reflecting his theatrical sensibility.
"My works range from small, atmospheric oils to large, more complex compositions. The smaller pieces focus primarily on texture, creating mood and movement through the use of strong tonal ranges and loose brushstrokes. The larger works are often theatrical in nature depicting an array of peculiar characters thrown together in a world not entirely of our own. Influences of Bosch, Bruegal and Neo Rauch are evident in their compositional arrangements. I employ fantasy and satire to unravel the complexities of the human story. The works are rich in symbolism, reflecting life experience and issues of a wider nature. The paintings are often deeply personal that mirror contradictions within all of us-light and dark, peace and violence, life and death. Such dualities fill our lives. Despite having a conflicted outlook I weave humour through the narratives of my work, conveying the absurdity and pathos of a situation."