Brad Rude

Born in Montana, Brad has a passion for living in the country–his home and studio are now tucked beneath Walla Walla’s Blue Mountains– and this has left him with a love of the Northwest. He is a storyteller. He portrays animals in situations that mimic our own lives. The animals are a stand in for us. He most often explore ideas about movement, and sees movement as the foundation for the Journey of Life. He uses visual analogies and metaphors to help viewers identify with the various animal characters and see themselves, perhaps saying, ‘I’ve been there before’ or ‘I wish I could do that.’ It is in the storytelling that history and the ideology of the classic are juxtaposed with the unexpected, the curious and the inventive. These are atypical configurations which combine the utterly fantastic with the commonplace with a nod to understanding relationships and transformations. Brad creates sculptures that are positive and hopeful and enjoyed by people of all ages..