Resume
Name: Bruce James Gardner
Date of birth: 8th October 1973
Place of birth: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape, South Africa
Current residency: Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Education: Lawson Brown High School – Art curriculum
Tertiary education: Nelson Mandela Bay University – Faculty of Art and Design 3 Years
Exhibition: ArtEC (EPSAC) Selected work for group exhibition 1994
Competition: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum – Selected work, George Pemba exhibition 2024
Biography
Residing in his city of birth, Port Elizabeth now named Gqeberha. Fine art, sculpture and creative design have always been an entwined aspect of his life. As a young child he would sketch in books to occupy himself and create mini plasticine clay sculptures. With a natural talent that was to be explored, his desire to create art was first and foremost influence through the legacy of his great grandfather James Gardner, who was a professional artist with numerous commissions in the field of sculpture and architecture. James also lectured as an art master in various art institutions locally and at the University of Massachusetts in America.
As a young boy, he was fortunate enough to be able to attend additional art lessons in drawing and sculpture outside of junior school. Growing up in a small suburb of Bluewater Bay. This particular nabourhood had a lot to offer as it was located outside the city on the sea front of the mouth of the Swartkops river system.
His formative years and youth were spent exploring the outdoors in the nearby bushveld, river and sea. Nature became a catalyst for his subject matter from a early age in his sketches and still remains one of the key influences in his works.
After completing his 3 year Graphic design studies at the Nelson Mandela Bay University, he took up part time employment at his brothers small fiberglassing factor to gather funds to move to a larger city with a more vibrant art industry. The position became permanent and this derailment his art career and the move to a larger city.
Years later he left the business to expand on his own into the construction field of swimming pools and outdoor entertainment areas. During the covid 19 lock down he was unable to work. He purchased some canvases and started to paint to occupy his time and this was the catalyst that induced the question of becoming a professional fine artist. Oil paint on canvas and aluminum board has been his starting point to enter the fine art industry and he has been working on creating a portfolio with as much of his spare time available to do so, as his income is through his currently operated small business.