Introducing Brady Legler: Fine Art and Jewelry Designer

Discovering Brady Legler is like a breath of fresh air that turns into a windstorm of creative energy at a moments notice. One gets the impression that at any time he will burst forth with an  idea and will transform it into a fine piece of gorgeous jewelry, put paintbrush to canvas for a stunning new painting, or even design a rug that sets the tone for a room that is above and beyond fabulous!

Does this transformation come from years of experience? Actually Legler is twenty five, recently finished design school at Parsons; however his collections are in some of the finest jewelers and galleries  in the nation.

I will let you hear more about this young genius from the man himself.

Brady, when did you first become aware that art and design was your calling? Would you tell our readers a bit about your background and youth. ( I know you are a Kansas City native as am I)

I grew up in Kansas City and had a pretty normal childhood. I played on soccer teams from my preschool years and all through high school, I was definitely a better soccer player than I was a student!  By the age of 19, I was selling my jewelry in Kansas City department stores Halls and Soho 119. That’s where I met Carmella Spinelli (Carmella Spinelli was a co-owner of Soho 119 when it was here in Leawood and she was the Associate Chair of the Fashion Department at Parsons she is now at SCAD) and  some New York designers. Carmella encouraged me to apply to Parsons, The New School for Design. I was a student in Parsons product design department for four years while I juggled my time to keep up with my jewelry design, art, and rug businesses. 

Like many other kids, I was introduced to painting through art classes at school (my art teacher Mallory Hilvitz at the Barstow School was the one teacher that always believed in me and urged me to be creative…..she believes in all her students).  I was a constant doodler which turned into a daily activity in high school.  My dad painted and always encouraged me to paint. He framed the first painting I did when I was six and it hangs in his office. He told me then that I was an artist, and I guess I believed him. When I pick up a paintbrush my goal is to always add depth, movement, and emotion but I cannot attain any of that without the right colors.  I go to color to recharge me.

Tide Pool

Where do you find inspiration? I understand that your grandmother was a huge influence on your personal philosophy. 

Color is my biggest source of inspiration. Traveling is also a huge inspiration to me it helps me get out of my personal comfort zone and opens my mind to new things.

Yes my grandmother was and still is a huge influence on my work and creative process. She was the definition of style and taste. A pivotal point came for me when my grandmother passed away in 2008. She left me several pieces of costume jewelry which I reconfigured into a necklace for my mother to wear. That’s when the idea came to me to start a jewelry line that was based on the sense of style my grandmother developed as a model. 

Now my mother is a huge inspiration for me. Like my grandmother, her sense of style is impeccable and always ahead of trend. My mother was a fashion model in the 80's and 90's and most recently was one of the faces of 5F for Bergdorf Goodman in NY at the age of 50 (she is 53 now and jump starting her modeling career again).

Diamond Rail Cuff

Are there other artists or designers who you admire and do you have a mentor?

Yes, there are many other artists/designers I admire such as Matt Baldwin who is another Kansas City native, Adam Lippes, and Peter Som in New York. They have all played major mentoring rolls in my growth and development and I owe a lot to each. Franz Kline is my favorite abstract expressionist artist. Wassily Kandinsky inspires me too. 

I love a lot of the work of street artists like, Blu, RESO and TILT. I was attracted to the size and color I saw in street art as a kid and I respect it as an art form.

Prism

Brady your stunning  designs stand apart in their uniqueness and are worn and collected by some of the most elite of the world. What does this mean to you?

It’s very humbling and a great feeling knowing that just one person has somehow been changed or affected by my work, it is really an indescribable feeling, I am just very grateful. It is also a validation that I am doing what I need to be doing.  I love the design process.  

Subway Ring

What is next for Brady Legler in your world of design? 

A dress collection that I am working on now and am really loving the process. I am also doing t-shirt line for men and women, a men's jewelry collection, continuing to paint almost every day, working on my second jewelry collection and adding about 10 new rug designs next year as well and working on my own textiles.

Sunrise

Finally what words of wisdom do you have for the young artist or designer starting out in this very competitive world?

My words of wisdom would have to be don't get caught up in the trends and what everyone else is doing but instead follow your own creativity, find your own niche. 

Diamond Post Earrings

Finally what words of wisdom do you have for the young artist or designer starting out in this very competitive world?

My words of wisdom would have to be don't get caught up in the trends and what everyone else is doing but instead follow your own creativity, find your own niche. 

Abstract Design Rug 

On a personal note: 

What are your favorite restaurants/ places to eat?

So many: Lidia's in KC, the Smyth in NY, S'MAC in NY, Yasuda is a great sushi place here in NY, but Criff Dogs and Shake Shack are everyday places that I love to pop into. Outside KC and NY I love Sunshine Grill in Grand Cayman, Caffe Mingo in Portland, and breakfast at Hotel Arts in Barcelona, and Chipolte anywhere.

Where would you go for some R&R?  What do you enjoy doing on a day that is open to anything? Do you have a dream travel destination?

I love to travel. I like the beach, the mountains, and big cities. Getting lost in a new city. I like spur of moment things, things that are unplanned and unexpected so anything that involves something I have not done or somewhere I have not been are always on my adventure list.

Tell us five things you absolutely cannot live without.

My family, my friends, my sketch pad/pen, a blank canvas and paint.

How would you describe your personal style?

My personal style is always changing but I would have to say it is pretty simplistic with an edge. I like well made clothes. I won’t lie, sometimes it gets a little crazy sometimes!

The perfect host or hostess gift ? (other than a pair of your earrings!)

At 25 I haven't gone to a lot of parties where a gift is required but the few I have been to in NY I like to get personal gifts for people so if I get them a bottle of wine or something I will paint over it just to make it a little more special. If it is a time crunch I stop at Dean & Deluca in Soho and get a small box of Kansas City's own Christopher Elbow Chocolates which is edible art.  

What is a special holiday tradition you love?

Staying home and watching movies all day on Christmas with my family. My family is fun so holidays are a blast as long as we are together. When I was younger we started having nerf gun wars on Christmas morning and even now as a 25-year-old man I  still love to do that.

Where can your jewelry, art and rugs be found by our readers. ( I can provide any links you would like.) Do you have any exhibits planned in the near future?

I am currently in Tivol's in Kansas City and my sales rep. and I have been doing jewelry trunk shows all over the country. My art is represented by Evan Lobel at Lobel Modern in New York and I work with interior designers all over the world. The Rug Studio in Overland Park sells my rug line.

www.bradylegler.com 

www.tivol.com (jewelry)

www.rugstudio.com 

rugstudioinc@yahoo.com (Rugs)

www.lobelmodern.com

info@lobelmodern.com (Art)

Brady thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this feature!
It is a pleasure to get to know more about you! I wish you all the best in the year ahead!

Thank you to my friends, Family, and Followers who support the Arts!

Please do leave a comment as they make my day!

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xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena

A Special Interview with Kansas City Artist Gregory Summers

I am very excited to feature local artist Gregory Summers and some of his stunning works of art.

Greg has a wonderful sense of humor  and as you can see he has a special love of Kansas City in his heart!

Gregory is involved in a number of art groups in the area. The Kansas City Artists Coalition, Friends of the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Friends of the Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art, Friend of the Overland Park Arts. and am one of the founding members of the Missouri Valley Impressionist Society.

A Plaza Light

 K) When did you realize that you wanted to paint and create art? 

G) A long long time ago, I remember reading "The Wind in the Willows" and loving the story, and not liking the illustrations that went along with it, so I proceeded to redraw it to my liking. It was a start, and it gave me something to do whenever I was sent to my room for one reason or another.

 Waiting on the Till

 K) I understand you are a member of the Kansas City Artists Coalition. Did joining that membership provide inspiration and support?

 G) Joining the KCAC brought me out of my little cocoon of my own making that kept me out of the art world.

Out of the Wind

 K)  You’re latest art I have seen is truly amazing, the light and shadows draw one in? Do you work from photographs, reality, or the visions in your own mind?

 G)Well thank you for saying that. What has revitalized my passion for art has been painting "en plein air". I just love grabbing my easel and paints and getting outdoors. Wind, rain, snow, it's like the postman's old mantra, but rearranged a bit to fit my own purposes... to paint. I do normally take a photo of the setting, and if I don't finish on site, I have no problem finishing it off in my studio.

Moraine Valley Elk

K) What keeps your passion to paint alive?

G) It's more like it's been reborn! In 2002 I sobered up after a long bout with alcoholism,  I was actually able to see the canvas clearly. I met a wonderfully supportive  woman whom I married. And pretty much she keeps my passion alive, that and all the years of trying to recapture all that I missed while "absent" from the art.

Gems from the West

K) Greg, do you have any exhibits currently or on the 2012 agenda?

G) I spent the better part of 2011 knocking on galleries trying to find places to show my art, and ended up with 10 openings last year. 2o12 looks to be equally as busy, just less foot work. I presently have a solo show of my "Plein Air" art at the West Patron Gallery, I am showing at the KC Arts Council, the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Assoc, and Glacial Till Gallery in Ashland Nebraska. In February I have a solo show at the Art Institute International Kansas City, March I am featured at the Kansas City Club, June is a the MVIS Founders Show in Lee's Summit. This February I am headed out of state for a plein air workshop, maybe it would have been easier to say "yes" I do. I really am using 2012 to improve and refine my work, and that will be my main focus for the year.

On Broadway

K) Finally, what words of wisdom do you have for the aspiring artist of any age?

G) Don't drink and drive? I bet you meant towards art. It would take a wiser man than I to profess any great words of wisdom. But I can speak from the experiences that I have encountered.  

If you want to amount to anything, go for greatness, don't just settle for being good at your work. There are a lot of things I am good at, but that's not what I will be remembered for.  It's when you continue to better yourself, and know that the next painting will be even better, that's how I'm going to get to be great at what I do.

K) Thank you so much Greg for taking the time  to share with us!

G) And thank you for your interest in me and my art

You can visit Gregory's  Art Website

Also  Visit his Blog at rgregorysummers.comBlog 

Also thank you to my faithful friends and followers who make it encourage and support the arts!

xoxo

Karena

Art by Karena

Snowy Snowy Nights

Sunny skies in Kansas City today, very misleading as it is below freezing temperature. More snow tomorrow.....Everyone I know (except those in Vancouver) are looking forward to springtime! These original oil paintings reflect the image and mood of nighttime in my part of the world!

Cool Passion

During the wintry months of Kansas City it is time to think about all we have to be thankful for. Hand in hand, what are you passionate about? Is it your family or partner, your career, music, dance, or art? New Year's is right around the corner. Before 2009 arrives, I encourage all of those I care for to do some soul searching and bring your passions to life!