Today’s Featured artist is Kim Bernadas. Currently in an exhibit at Le Mieux Galleries in the New Orleans arts district, http://www.artsdistrictneworleans.com/galleries ; her recent work can be seen in person here https://lemieuxgalleries.com/exhibitions For registration information on her sculpture classes please reach out to the artist directly here https://kimbernadas.com/purchase-art-contact/
The Study of Figure and Portraiture in Sculpture:
“Artist Kim Bernadas offers sculpture classes with courses of study for the novice as well as the professional. Students will be guided through the process of modeling a portrait or figure from life using traditional water-based clay with or without the use of an armature. With a focus on gesture and proportion, the student will learn key observation skills directly from a live model, to bring about a better understanding of structure and form. Teaching methods will include hands on demonstrations, as well a discussion in classical ideology of the human figure and its form. The course is appropriate for students of all levels who have an interest in sculpture.”
KIM BERNADAS, Biography
Kim Bernadas, sculptor of Figurative and Portraiture in Neoclassic Realism , has been creating works of art for over 25 years. With focus on gesture, form and emotional sensitivity, her sculptures evoke a unique likeness and timeless portrayal of each of her subjects. In her figures, she uses gesture, proportion, and the spirit of each individual to capture the essence of the subject. With a background as a physical therapist and a former ballet instructor, Kim has had a lifelong study in the dynamics of the human form.
Her artistic training began at New Orleans Academy of Fine Art in 1991, where she was the Chief Sculptor Instructor from 2005 to 2023.. She presently teaches workshops and classes around the Southeast throughout the year, notably one of which includes a 6 week intensive for LSU and Tulane Medical Residents of Plastic Surgery.
Her professional career has included many public and private collections; most recently the Walter Dumas Bust for the Baton Rouge Community College Center, Ed McKee Plaque for Livingston Parish, Baby Pan for the Soniat Garden and The Lifesize Mother and Child for the Tulane Medical Center Maternity Pavillion. Most noteworthy was the selection of the work Birth of a Muse in 25 for 25–Arts Council of New Orleans -elected as one of the most influential public art contributions in 25 years.
The first Public Commission Post Hurricane Katrina for City of New Orleans/Coliseum Square Park – Birth of a Muse, wasinstalled September 2011. Other Projects in Public Spaces include life size bronze of Stanley W. Ray for New Orleans City Park, a multi-compositional sculpture for East Baton Rouge Library, and a life size bronze of Pastor Robert Blakes, Sr. for the New Home Ministries Church, contemporary Bronze sculpture for the CardioVascular Institute of the South, The 4 Greek Muses, 4 Lifesize Bronzes representing Muses Terpsichore, Euterpe, Thalia and Melpomene for Jefferson Performing Arts Center, Lifesize bronze memorial of Brother Martin Hernandez, Lifesize bronze memorial for Lafreniere Park in Memory of Ingrid Petersen, Butterflies and Irises. Most recently, lifesize bronze sculpture of St. Landry as part of the Bicentennial Celebration of St. Landry Parish in Opelousas, LA.
Kim was also featured in the New Orleans Magazine, Homes and Lifestyles Magazine and named the 2005 WYES Artist of the Year, as well as an award winner in the 2004 National Drawing Exhibition in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Kim received the 2014 and 2024 Award for Sculpture in the nationally renowned Portrait Society of America Competition, and 2020, 2022, and 2023 Award Winner for the 92nd national Exhibition of American Artists Professional League. In addition, newly elected to Signature Status with the AAPL. Publications available in February 2014-from Lark Books- 500 Figures in Clay- Volume 2, which include works by Kim Bernadas and other noted clay figurative artists; Sculpting Plastic Surgeons, Country Roads Magazine, January 2014, Nola Canvas Magazine2018. 2022 Coastal 98- Featured Highlight on Artist is Residence , Eastern Shore , Fairhope ALA. Multiple publications in print of Times-Picayune, The Advocate , Clarion Herald 2011-2018, and Journal of Portrait Society of America October 2019 issue featured article for artist spotlight.
