Artist and Filmmaker Garrett Bradley. | Courtesy Lisson Gallery
LISSON GALLERY of London, New York, and Shanghai announced its worldwide representation of Garrett Bradley on March 5. In her bio, the artist and filmmaker states that she “works across narrative, documentary, and experimental modes of filmmaking to address themes such as race, class, familial relationships, social justice, southern culture, and the history of film in the United States.”
Further describing her work, Lisson said: “Adopting archival material alongside newly shot footage, Bradley’s films exist simultaneously in the past, present and future, not only disrupting our perception of time, but also breaking down our preconceived ideas about objectivity, perspective and truth-telling.”
Bradley gained widespread recognition last year for her award-winning documentary, “Time.” The tender and heart-wrenching film follows the ordeal of Sibil “Fox Rich” Richardson, a mother of six sons trying desperately for two decades to bring her husband home from the Louisiana State Penitentiary. A searing portrait, the film is particularly moving because Richardson provided the Bradley with compelling home movie footage meticulously documenting her efforts to reunite her family. Bradley won the Directing Award: U.S. Documentary at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. She is the first Black woman to win the award.
“We are delighted to be working with Garrett Bradley to continue to support and extend the reach of her unique vision and the powerful stories she chooses to share. The recognition Bradley has already achieved reflects the impact of her work across a wide-ranging audience,” Lisson Executive Director Alex Logsdail said in a statement.
“Bradley’s instincts are both radical and timeless, combining an honest and direct conceptual commitment with a contemplative and lyrical style. We look forward to bringing her ideas into the world together through future exhibitions and projects.”
“Bradley’s instincts are both radical and timeless, combining an honest and direct conceptual commitment with a contemplative and lyrical style.”
— Alex Logsdail, Lisson Gallery
GARRETT BRADLEY, “America,” 2019, Directed by Garrett Bradley. | © Garrett Bradley, Courtesy the filmmaker
GARRETT BRADLEY, “America,” 2019, Directed by Garrett Bradley. | © Garrett Bradley, Courtesy the filmmaker
After receiving a BA degree from Smith College (2007), Bradley earned an an MFA from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2012. She lives and works in New Orleans.
“Garrett Bradley: American Rhapsody,” the artist’s first solo museum exhibition was presented at the Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, in 2019. Her work was also featured in the Whitney Biennial 2019, where she showed “A.K.A.” (2019).
“Projects: Garrett Bradley” (Nov. 21, 2020-March 21, 2021) is currently on view at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The solo exhibition features “America” (2019), a multichannel video installation that incorporates footage from the film “Lime Kiln Club Field Day” (1914). From MoMA’s collection, the work is believed to be the oldest surviving feature-length film with an all-Black cast. Part of a collaborative partnership between the Studio Museum in Harlem, MoMA, and MoMA PS1, the exhibition is organized by Thelma Golden, director and chief curator of the Studio Museum, with Legacy Russell, associate curator at the Studio Museum.
Bradley’s work is also included in two group shows. “Grief and Grievance: Art and Mourning in America” (Feb. 17-June 6, 2021) at the New Museum was originally conceived by late curator Okwui Enwezor. At the McEvoy Foundation for the Arts in San Francisco, “New Labor Movements” (Oct. 14, 2020-March 14, 2021) showcases a selection of short films.
In a statement about her new representation, Bradley said: “Lisson has supported artists across time, space and practice for over five decades and I am honored to have the opportunity to join this group of artists who I admire, and to collaborate with a gallery committed to cultural growth both now and far beyond.” CT
FIND MORE about Garrett Bradley on her website
READ MORE about how the focus of Garrett Bradley’s film “Time” shifted when her subject shared two decades of home movies with her
Trailer: Director Garrett Bradley’s film “Time” won best director in the U.S. documentary category at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. | Video by Amazon Prime Video
