Brad Kahlhamer makes all sorts of art including paintings, sculptures, and music. But it’s not only skills that are diverse, his background is too!
Being a “man of many worlds”, he was born Native American, grew up with an adoptive German-American family in Arizona, and moved to New York’s Lower East Side in his twenties, where he switched from music to art.
Studio, Bowery, NYC, 1996
https://bradkahlhamer.net/next-level-figures
Kahlhamer searches for his identity, which he calls “yondering,” through his works. He fuses bits of traditional Native American art and the punkness of New York graffiti. His most famous works—sculptures—especially showcase this combination of his various interests and cultural background such as dreamcatchers and katsina dolls.
The artist’s work is an intersection of all his passions, and we can see this in how he uses a neo expressionist style, notably German and American neo-expressionism. His works are very bright and textured with a sense of wildness to them, but more importantly, the meaning behind them makes them special.
Bowery Bird Board
https://bradkahlhamer.net/next-level-figures
Though they all convey similar meanings, every one of Kahlhamer’s works is different, and there’s a uniqueness to each piece.
“And the sculptures themselves convey mixed messages. No two alike, together they’re as vivaciously inventive as Calder’s ‘Circus.’ But they’re also morbid, death-haunted, a circus risen from the grave.”
“Bowery Nation”
https://bradkahlhamer.net/next-level-figures
Kahlhamer today lives and works in both New York City and Mesa, Arizona, both of which he considers home. His pieces have been in several renowned museums and exhibitions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Aspen Art Museum, and Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.
Here are more of his works:
“S.D International U.S.A” part of Kahlhamer’s Bed Sheets collection
https://bradkahlhamer.net/painting
Super Catcher Studio Model
https://bradkahlhamer.net/next-level-figures
See more of his works on his website (https://bradkahlhamer.net/work)!