Meet Ron Burkhardt | Contemporary Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ron Burkhardt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ron, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
For me, the appeal of running your own show is the independence and freedom from the petty politics and envious sniping encountered at most companies. What’s most exciting is the ability to let your mind run unfettered, to pursue whatever visions, pursuits or products you wish. I’m a creative hybrid living in Palm Beach and New York. I’ve had two business careers-first as an Adman, when I co-founded Burkhardt & Christy Advertising in NYC in the 90’s, with dozens of major blue-chip clients like BMW, Sony, Falcon Jet and the NY Yankees. As CEO/Creative Director/Writer, I won over 200 awards and created dramatic success for our high-end accounts. I still receive calls to help brand companies today and currently work with several cutting-edge companies to build distinctive corporate identities.

Then as a contemporary American Artist the past 20+ years, I’ve had over 100 shows worldwide, major press accolades and celebrity collectors that have resulted in constant commissions, including several six figure commissions for my monumental paintings.

The fusion of writing combined with my visual instincts somehow created a unique style of artistic energy.

What should our readers know about your business?

Art: I create original and luminescent canvases, infused with rich colorations, that manifest inspiring light and exude emotional energy. I’m the originator and founder of three genres of contemporary American art: Notism (hieroglyphic scribbles and scrawls that reveal Memory Fragments-“Art of the Note”); Earth Art (large, unprimed raw canvases soaked in organic soil, water, acrylic & enamel paint and bleached in the sun); and LetterScapes (bold color fields of geometric shapes that spell words when I apply my own unique abstract alphabet).

Advertising: I believe in the power of symbolism and far-reaching ideas. Once I create a compelling vision for a company, I transform it into bold concepts that have both visceral and rational impact. Since I started out as a writer, and later became a visualist, I can bring a product or service to life in a way that touches people in a personal, authentic way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Shopping on Worth Avenue or the Royal Poinciana Center. First-class restaurants abound in the Palm Beach area: Le Bilboquet, the Palm Beach Grill, Trevinis, the trendy rooftop restaurant at The Ray Hotel a short walk from Delray’s Atlantic Avenue shops and white sandy beaches, the Polo fields in Wellington, and the Palm Beach Zoo for families. There’s also a state-of-the-art spring training stadium just a couple miles outside Palm Beach where the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals train.
Jupiter’s waterways, golf courses and restaurants on the water (Tiger Woods, Joe
Namath and Michael Jordan all own compelling dining spots with cool vibes, inspiring views and enticing interiors.) Best local spots for a friend in town (New York): Endless restaurants of every genre. Sports stadiums to watch the NY Yankees, the NY Jets, US Open Tennis matches; beautiful waterways like the ocean and Long Island Sound for sailing; the Hamptons’ white, sandy beaches and social scene; soaring monumental architecture; Broadway plays and top art galleries and museums.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Three great, close friends whose character I cherish and whose accomplishments I admire: Dottie Herman, the modern-day founder/CEO and now Vice- Chairman of Douglas Elliman Real Estate/NY, for always pushing people to excel and setting a sterling example of how to succeed and be all one can be. Her standards are high and her discipline strong. Bobby Hernreich, a supreme Renaissance Man and entrepreneur who has owned five sports teams and cutting edge companies, developed entire towns, owns a vast ranch atop Vail, flown on Air Force One with the Clintons and is a brilliant, visionary businessman, family man and philanthropist rolled into one! Also Jeff Devlin, a dynamic, loyal friend who’s always been supportive of both my advertising and art careers and is supremely focused on quality work. He’s the ultimate diplomat consummate family man and extremely connected, which is how he rose to be a top marketing leader at Deloitte Worldwide. He recently even earned an MBA from Columbia.

Website: ronburkhardt.com and Burkhardtpartners.com

Instagram: @ronburkhardtart

Linkedin: ron burkhardt

Facebook: ron burkhardt

Image Credits
David Vance Neil Tandy