Visual artist and CalArts alumnus Mark Bradford (Art BFA 1995, MFA 1997) is among the seven artists that will be awarded the US State Department Medal of Arts on Wednesday (Jan. 21).
Bradford “transforms materials scavenged from the street into wall-sized collages and installations that respond to the impromptu networks—underground economies, migrant communities, or popular appropriation of abandoned public space—that emerge within a city,” notes the US State Department website.
The Medal of Arts recognizes artists for their outstanding commitment and contributions to the Art in Embassies Program—a state program that promotes cross-cultural dialogue and understanding through the visual arts—and international cultural exchange. Bradford shares the distinction this year with Sam Gilliam, Xu Bing, Maya Lin, Julie Mehretu, Pedro Reyes and Kehinde Wiley.
US Secretary of State John Kerry will present the medals at a luncheon held at the State Department in Washington, D.C.
Above is a video of Bradford talking about his 2012 painting, Bad Ass.