Photo by Russel Kiehn.

BIO
Bradley W. Pattison was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 24th, 1946. After graduating from high school, he attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where he studied acting at the Goodman Theater. In 1966 Pattison moved to New York to pursue a career in the theater. The summer of 1968 he relocated to Provincetown, Massachusetts where he met the artist, Bonnie Whittingham, who told him he had the hands of a painter.

Whittingham invited Pattison to her studio to paint with her. The experience was life changing for him. His short career in the theater ended as a new career was beginning.

Pattison remained in Massachusetts until 1971 when the opportunity of moving to the desert outside of Tucson, Arizona presented itself. Whittingham advised Pattison to take this opportunity to follow his instincts and teach himself to paint. She also advised he not show his work to anyone for at least two years. Pattison and Whittingham stayed in contact with one another until the time of her death.

In Arizona, Pattison taught himself to stretch canvas, experiment with brush choices as well as pigments. He had started painting with acrylics in Provincetown, which were relatively new at the time and would stay with acrylics for his entire career. During the two years of working in isolation, Pattison struggled to teach himself painting but never lost the enthusiasm which had been ignited by Whittingham. He often traveled to Chicago, New York, and Boston to visit galleries, museums, and artist’s studios. His curiosity and desire to paint to the best of his ability became stronger after each return to his desert studio. Pattison’s diligence and dedication eventually began to show itself in his work. By the end of the two-year period, he had developed techniques and a solid voice as a painter. In 1976 two of his paintings were accepted for The American Painters in Paris exhibition in Paris, France; his first juried show. Pattison’s career as a working artist had officially begun.

Pattison maintains his studio practice by working each day for six to seven hours, taking part in exhibitions, competitions and recently completed a month-long artist residency in Orquevaux, France at Chateau Orquevaux. His practice is supported by loyal patrons, collectors, and commissioned works. He is currently represented in the United States by Art on Main in Dallas, Texas, USA.