Meet Ron Burkhardt | International Contemporary Abstract Artist

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

Hi Ron, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in a small town in the midwest-jackson, michigan. It was often cloudy, cold and gray so l often ended up indoors reading, writing and sketching though l sought external stimulation and color where l could find it. The midwestern values l grew up with of pioneering spirit, character, compassion, integrity and quality of life left an idyllic imprint in my soul.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Founder of three genres of contemporary american abstract art.

Took ten years (2001-2011) until l gained any real traction with my art after a long and successful career as an ad agency owner and creative director in new york. Once you gain enough momentum, the art starts to take on a life of its own and sales come organically and frequently.

I’m known for bold, bright colors and rich compositions, which were instilled in me at an early age by growing up less than a mile from one of the largest man-made colored waterfalls in the world-the cascades falls in jackson, michigan. That sight created inspiration and a sense of magic as I walked past them to school each day. (and at night fireflies flickered in the dusky sky and an orchestra played below!)

As a result of all these influences, l have originated three genres of contemporary american art over the past two decades-notism, earth art and letterscapes.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
To the hamptons-montauk lighthouse, gurney’s inn, east hampton grille, sag harbor marina and bilboquet, southampton main street shops, hampton maid for breakfast, the magnificent homes along meadow lane and dune road and any/all of the white sandy beaches.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate this to all those who stood by me and supported this exciting venture/adventure, especially those early and frequent collectors who provided the incentive to keep rolling and painting. Some of my biggest “patrons” have been bobby hernreich, sylvia hemingway, michael romano iii and jeff marinelli.

And to my brilliant art gallery owners and dealers such as bryan walsh/dtr modern/palm beach, steven manolis of manolis projects/miami, javier tourne of leonard tourne gallery/nyc, peter marcelle and catherine mccormick of mm fine art/southampton, bruce helander and paul fisher of fisher gallery/west palm beach.

Website: ronburkhardt.com

Instagram: @ronburkhardtart

Linkedin: Ron Burkhardt

Facebook: Ron Burkhardt

Image Credits
Photographers Christopher Fay Annie Watt David Vance