Brad Smith

Brad Smith is a native Texan that has managed to make a living as an artist on his own terms. As a Nationally Recognized Mural Artist, Brad quickly realized that the cities he loved so much were home to very little if any “art”. He refused to follow the standard artists’ path of moving to one of the major metropolitan areas of the country just to move into an area with an existing art market. Instead, Brad stayed true to his roots and developed a style that allowed him to thrive in the place he wanted to call home.

Finding his fit in the art world was no easy feat, and this journey eventually lead him to one of his true passions, creating murals for all to see. Murals not only allowed Brad to make a living off of his artwork, but they also brought color to the city. They bring color to the town, and become part of the city, a part of people’s day when the walk or drive past them. Brad loves the idea of the artwork being out among the people, the people essentially interact with these pieces. Many of the murals end up becoming “local landmarks” often referenced by the community when giving visitors directions around the city. From reviving Deep Ellum in Dallas, TX back in the 80’s to adding color to the walls of Burleson and stories to the city of Fort Worth, Brad’s work can be seen all throughout the communities that he continues to work in.

Brad’s talent is not limited to creating wonderful murals, his work on canvas is beautiful. Using many vibrant colors to tell stories that are relatable to those in all walks of life. The technique used in the paintings is on par with any renowned artist, but the subject matter usually speaks to everyone from the rich to the poor.  Although his style is really his own, there is an undeniable Americana influence throughout the breadth of his pieces. This conflict of wanting to live in a rural area, but still having the need to sell artwork to survive, is a theme that is often portrayed in Brad’s paintings. Many of his works directly convey that one can live in the country as long as they work in or take take your works to the city where commerce is more prevalent.