Hairdresser’s past - as a basement for a future well-known and wealthy artist
Mark Bradford was spending time and was helping mother in her hair salon, This influence you could see in his first works, where he used a permanent-wave endpapers, foil, and dye as parts of his collages.
He is recognized for his collaged painting works, which have been shown internationally, he use also video, print, and installation.
Nowadays he is creating grid-like abstract paintings combining collage with paint, which made out of layers of paper and cords which he carves into using various tools and techniques, including gouging, gluing, power-washing, tearing, shredding and sanding. Through time he has collected ‘merchant posters’ which are printed sheets advertising services and posted in neighborhoods - thats why sometimes his art works could seems to you - that you already have seen it somewhere on the billboards.
In 2015 Bradford’s art work "Constitution IV" (2013) was sold for $5.8 million and months after 'Smear' (2015) was sold for $4.4 million.
In March 2018, Helter Skelter I - painting sold for US$12 million, an this time its an artist record and the highest-ever auction price achieved by a living African American artist.
Its one of the artist who definetly choose the right conception, material and way of presenting own art, experience and personal life - and all of this combination made Bradford one
who was included in Time magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People for 2021.
