COPPINI ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS
BRAD BRAUNE
Born in Abilene, Texas in 1951, Brad lived there until he was 13. His maternal grandmother, Maybell Hutchins was a primitive Texas painter and ceramist, and he spent a major portion of his childhood painting and working with her. By the time he was in his early teens, his family had permanently relocated to the ranch they owned near the small Texas town of Hico, where he had already spent much of his childhood. In 1974 he received a bachelor of architecture degree from Texas Tech University, where he also studied art and painting. He moved to San Antonio in 1974 and began working as an architect at the San Antonio Development Agency. In 1975 he left SADA to work for Cerna, Garza, & Raba. He spent the remainder of his career as an architect with the prestigious San Antonio firm of Ford, Powell, & Carson, where he had the opportunity to work with world renowned architect O’Neil Ford. After 1978, he began painting full-time. In 1981 he was commissioned by MOKA to design the first Texas Folk Life Festival poster. This image of the longhorn cow with a balloon tied to her horn has become a familiar symbol of the nationally recognized annual festival. Also in 1981, he created the painting for the cover of the Frost Brother’s Christmas catalog. This painting of a wreath made of prickly pear cactus inspired the creation of actual wreaths. It was during this same period that he moved to New York where he lived and worked for several years, regularly returning to San Antonio where he kept a studio. In 1984 he was commissioned by The Joffrey Ballet to create a painting for the ballet "JAMBOREE" by Gerald Arpino. The ballet made its world premiere in San Antonio in June of 1984. The New York premiere at Lincoln Center debuted March of 1985. He also created the original scenic backdrop for the cult play A TUNA CHRISTMAS by Joe Sears, Jaston Williams and Ed Howard. He was again commissioned for the 1991 poster on the ten year anniversary of the first poster. His original painting for the 1991 Texas Folk Life Festival hangs in the US Embassy in Moscow. He currently resides in San Antonio.