Five years ago, artist Bradley Theodore couldn’t paint. Doubting his abilities, he drew but never considered himself an artist. He decided to have a conventional career in corporate America until one day the bottom fell out and lay-offs ensued.
This rude awakening propelled Bradley to change his way of thinking. Shifting his mind into believing anything is possible he took on his fear of painting head on, one step at a time until he started to develop his own unique style.
Fast forward to 2017 and Bradley’s meteoric rise is still ascending with his signature technique being recognised on a global scale. Art critics, galleries, collectors, and celebrities are buying up his art while major brands, music and fashion artist want to collaborate. A documentary called Becoming Bradley Theodore was featured at the Tribeca Film Festival last year to rave reviews. It takes the viewer on Theodore’s journey of becoming a renowned artist and how changing his thinking about what is possible changed his life.
Theodore, originally from Turks and Caicos, is based in New York City. His brightly coloured murals and canvases of iconic figures in skeletal form has been compared to Jean-Michael Basquiat. Like Basquiat, Theodore also brings his work to the public by painting street murals in New York, Oslo, Hong Kong, Paris and Los Angeles.
He developed a strict painting schedule for himself making him efficient, productive and very disciplined. To be able to transform his self-doubt into absolute self-belief gives food for thought to all of us who are sitting on unexplored dreams. Maybe it’s time to pull a Bradley Theodore.
“Fashion allows people to become Art.” – Bradley Theodore
“Advice for upcoming artists? Art is part of the economy. They should learn about economics, really brush up on your math skills, your social skills and your technology skills. We’re not in the world of yesterday, we’re in the world of today, which is a complex world, so artists have to do things they didn’t know they would have to do. Make sure they’re getting paid, investing money. You know, these things kinda all go together” – Bradley Theodore, Interview with VendomeMag.com.
Bradley’s solo exhibition, The Second Coming, is currently showing at the Maddox Gallery in Mayfair, London until May 20th 2017. The title refers to Bradley’s second exhibit at the gallery. On display are virtual reality creations, previously unseen sculptures and larger scale paintings.
The message in his art is “To Look Within.” – Bradley Theodore