§ MARTIN BRADLEY (BRITISH, 1930-2023)

MARTIN BRADLEY (BRITISH, 1930-2023)
Red Riding Hood
signed and dated 'Martin Bradley 1987' (lower right) titled twice 'Red Riding Hood' (lower left and upper right)
watercolour on patterned gilded board
26.7 x 24.1 cm. (10 1/2 x 9 1/2 in.)
together with;
Train
signed 'Martin Bradley' (lower right) and titled 'Train' (lower left)
watercolour on patterned gilded board
26.7 x 24.1 cm. (10 1/2 x 9 1/2 in.)
(2)

'My painting tends to evoke the essence of an object, an emotion real or imaginary. For me the world is composed of a long series of natural visions inextricably mixed with those of the imagination, and each picture that I make is a crystallisation of these experiences suspended in the long corridor of time.' - Martin Bradley in1962

From an early age, London-born Martin Bradley knew he wanted to be an artist. Aged 14, he ran away to sea to serve as a cabin boy on the Central and South American run. Whilst there, he started painting, primarily academic portraits of his fellow shipmates. Three years later, he returned to London and pursued studies in oriental languages, literature, and art. Many British experts on Chinese, Tibetan, and Japanese culture inspired Bradley, who developed a special interest in Chinese and Japanese calligraphy and art.

He resided in Italy, France, and England before converting to Nichiren Shôshû Buddhism, which he claims, "changed the whole foundation of my thinking." Bradley has had over 130 solo exhibitions since 1954, and his artwork is owned by collectors all over the world.