October Artist of the Month
Meet Eddie Bruckner
Professional Artist Eddie Bruckner’s art is meant to put a smile on the face of the beholder. It is instantly recognizable and never fails to delight. Bruckner has developed his style to include bright colors, bold lines and a mosaic tile structure. “My art is mostly about fun, happy things…at the same time, my art is intended to give the viewer a unique way to experience familiar people, places and objects.” His subjects include iconic images such as Marilyn Monroe, the Eiffel Tower, the Boston Citgo Sign, and Oreo cookies.
Despite the engaging objects he paints, Bruckner is more focused on style than on subject matter. His mosaic tile illusion provides cohesion to his pieces and provides harmony. The confetti-like background exudes fun, happiness, and exhilaration. His unique style is in many ways influenced by his time spent living in Los Angeles and Miami.
It is no surprise that Bruckner has been commissioned to create many Public Art projects. He is passionate about creating art for everyone. In August 2020, his artwork was selected by New York City’s Rockefeller Center, along with notable artists and designers like Jeff Koons, Christian Siriano, Carmen Herrera, KAWS, and others. Each artist’s work was transformed into a 5’x8’ flag that was hung on the famous flagpoles that surround the Rink at Rockefeller Center. The art installation was meant to embody the strength of New York City during the COVD crisis. Bruckner said that his flag design is based on an original acrylic on canvas painting titled, “Liberty,” portraying the Statue of Liberty holding her torch high and proud, against a blue mosaic-like sky. Bruckner shares, “In many ways the illusion of mosaic tile (it’s all paint) represents the melting pot of people, cultures, and immigrants, who arrived in NYC in the past, as well as those who call New York City home today.”
He also created a painted piano for the Celebrity Series of Boston and the global art installation, “Play Me, I’m Yours.” He was honored to have his piano selected to be placed at City Hall Plaza for the press event. He took immense joy watching people of all ages from all over the world and all walks of life sit down and play his piano. “It was amazing—there were young children playing beautiful concertos all across Boston on unique, painted pianos.” Bruckner shared that one of his greatest memories was having the official organist from the Boston Bruins, Ron Poster, play his painted piano at a special community event, called “Party At The Piano” at City Hall Plaza. “It was so much fun to hear him play, and see Bostonians and tourists come together to share in the fun. It was extra special to have my wife Debra and two kids, Rachel & Sam, my wonderful and supportive in-laws, along with extended family and friends to celebrate together.”
Bruckner has also painted several electrical boxes—now pieces of art: “Natick Pride And The Boston Marathon” along the Boston Marathon route, the “Fenway PaintBox” steps away from Fenway Park, and he just completed another unique public art piece commissioned by the City of Boston along the Rose Kennedy Greenway on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and State Street, near the New England Aquarium. This “beautification of space brings people together and makes us smile.” Bruckner enjoys not only the creation of art but also the installation process which often becomes a community event.
To promote the arts and the importance of music education throughout New England, the Ernie Boch Jr. Foundation and the non-profit Music Drives Us selected Bruckner to create a painted fiberglass guitar for “Music, Love & Rock ‘N’ Roll GuitARTS” Public Art project. The guitar was auctioned for the charitable cause and was gifted by the winning bidder to the Mansfield High School Music Department. You can watch the process for many of these projects on Bruckner’s YouTube channel. Eddie shared that he has a few other exciting public art projects in the works and would love to do a larger mural or even transform his unique style of painting into something sculptural. “I have a few ideas on how to do this and am looking to partner with businesses, organizations, or communities in the Boston area.”
Another fun fact for Bruckner is that his paintings are slated to be part of the set design for two feature-length movies, that are currently in the casting stage of pre-production.
As he loves to reach so many with his art, Eddie also enjoys teaching art to kids and adults. “I really enjoy teaching private art instruction, one-on-one lessons. When I teach, I do not typically teach my own abstract or Pop-Art style, I teach the basic elements of art focusing on technique. After a while of working with a student on one medium whether it be drawing or painting, I always like to encourage my students to try different mediums because the more well-rounded you are as an artist, the better artist you will become. If you love painting, try drawing, if you love drawing, try colored pencils…” While he teaches Colored Pencils, Beginning Painting and Beginning Drawing classes through Needham and Newton Community Education, he prefers private instruction to be able to give 100% of his attention and focus to his student, carefully watching color mixing techniques, brush selection, pencil choice, and even watching how much pressure is being used with the brush or pencil. I like my personalized approach to art instruction because I can teach people drawing or painting techniques that they can use to develop their own style and be able to express themselves creatively in their own way. During COVID isolation, Eddie has been successful at moving all his art instruction online via Zoom. Eddie shared that, “At this unique time, when kids are returning to school via remote or hybrid model, it’s a good time to be thinking about art education and instruction. I hear from parents who are eager to find quality art lessons online for their children. Adults are also looking to keep busy and develop their artistic abilities.”
Coming next for Bruckner is a solo show at the Natick Mall in November 2020. He has just finished nine paintings, many inspired by some of the pioneers of the Pop-Art movement such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, and Robert Indiana. “I paint anything that makes me happy or I think would make other people happy when they see it. As a Pop Artist, I love to paint popular things using my signature style, whether they be famous people, iconic places, or lovable characters, words, or abstractions. There is a lot of variety in my artwork ranging from paintings of Oreo Cookies and Hershey’s Kisses, to, Madonna or Marilyn Monroe, to Boston’s Citgo Sign and the Last Vegas Sign, to paintings of colorful puppy dogs and Hello Kitty. Observing the first time a collector sees my artwork in their home is something that thrills me. It’s an inspiring reminder of the transformative impact a painting can have on the overall look of a room and the pleasure it gives people.”
In addition to selling his original paintings on his own website EddieBruckner.com, Eddie recently opened an ETSY Shop to reach a wider audience selling limited edition prints and merchandise with images of his artwork. Many of his original paintings are also for sale online at Perigold.com, the luxury division of Wayfair.com, where he has had success selling his artwork.
He exhibits widely in the local community and throughout New England, and is proud to be a member of the WSA and an artist-member of the Attleboro Art Museum. Beyond these communities, he has exhibited all over the country with shows in New York, Texas, California, Missouri, New Jersey, and on Newbury Street in Boston. One of his recent Citgo Sign paintings is currently in the 26th Annual Juried Show at the Zullo Gallery Center for the Arts of Medfield.
Bruckner wants the audience to connect to his art and enjoy the experience. For him, his art “is the visual language of happiness, love, and the beautification of physical space.”
Website: EddieBruckner.com
Eddie Bruckner Fine Art YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCamBWngXFOwL9AZhBjoy24A
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/EddieBrucknerFineArt
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/EddieBrucknerFineArt
ETSY Shop: Etsy.com/shop/EddieBrucknerFineArt