Brenda Councill

ARTIST PROFILE

Brenda Councill

Bio

Internationally known artist, Brenda Mauney Councill currently specializes in sculpture and large-scale murals, particularly domed ceilings, tackling projects that often put her high in the world of art. She recently completed The Largest Contemporary Painted Dome in the Southeast. Councill has been doing such large-scale projects for the past 15 years, the latest phase in her 35 year, award-winning career. Her projects span the globe and can extend for months with large-scale ceiling and wall murals in private homes and landmark buildings.
Martha Stewart visited the David H. Murdock Core Laboratory Building’s ceiling dome and climbed the 100 feet of scaffolding to meet the artist, and exclaimed, “ Councill is Michelle-angelo! ”. Ms. Councill’s work appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show after the media titan visited North Carolina. Her popularity among collectors and the public’s interest has been the focus of a PBS/UNC-TV segment on the artist. FOX, CBS and NBC affiliates have all run footage on Councill’s painted ceilings and other public work projects.
Educational projects awarded to Councill include massive murals, “The Quest for Knowledge” in the new Belk Library on the campus of Appalachian State University in North Carolina. Her newest monumental ceiling mural, “The Language of Symbols” commission, on campus, includes bas-relief embossed copper elements combined with trompe l’oeil crowning the grand foyer of the College of Education Building. Another signature ceiling mural on the subject of Biology, “The Spiral of Life” can be seen in the Belk Atrium of Presbyterian College in South Carolina. Hickory Museum of Art featured a retrospective of her monumental murals in 2012. She was selected and awarded the commission to paint a symbolic wall by the prestigious International Institute of Technology, Mumbai, India.
Brenda grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and her career was launched in 1963 at the age of 7 with her debut exhibition of paintings at the Jacksonville Museum of Arts and Sciences. Her first televised interview attracted regional attention and yielded important commissions, which led the 11-year-old artist to design and supervise the installation of her first outdoor sculpture. This early recognition of her talent motivated the creation of design projects that attracted the national media attention including an appearance on NBC’s TODAY SHOW.
In 1987, she opened a second studio in New York and began an impressive list of solo and group exhibitions that previewed her signature work of paintings and mixed metal constructions. The famed Circle Gallery hosted a major venue that gained widespread acclaim from such sponsors as The Smithsonian Institution, The Susan and Stephen Geller Foundation, The Advertising Club of New York Foundation and The National Arts Club. Corporate collections include DuPont, AT&T, Credit Suisse, British Airways, Jones Apparel Group, The Canadian Imperial Bank, Suntrust ,1st United Bank, Gate Petroleum, Shurtape Technologies, and many more. Private collectors in include Roberta Von Schlossberg, Sidney Kimmel, David H. Murdock, Llywd Ecclestone, Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos, Carol and Irwin Belk, and Hollywood accolades from the late Greta Garbo, Michael Douglas, Samuel L. Jackson, Connie Stevens, and Martha Stewart.
Permanent PUBLIC MURALS
2016 Public Mural- Tazewell Bridge, City of Roanoke, VA.
2015 Corner Store Initiative Exterior Public Mural, Downtown, Concord, NC
2014 Cabarrus Health Alliance Interior Public Murals, Kannapolis, NC
2013 “Tape by Tape” ,Shurtape Technologies Corporate Office, Hickory, NC
2012 “Heaven’s Light”, Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church, Ceiling Mural, Blowing Rock, NC
2011 “Transmission”, Mixed Media Ceiling Mural, Appalachian State University, College of Education, NC
Dept. of Health and Human Svcs. –WIC Educational Murals, Cabarrus County, NC
2010 Educational Wall Murals -The Academy At Ocean Reef, Key Largo Fl.
Dept. of Health and Human Svcs.-Educational Murals- WIC, Lenoir, NC.
2009 “Into the Future” Wall Mural- Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, India
Grandfather Home and School for Children, Inspirational Murals, Banner Elk, NC.
2008 North Carolina Research Campus, Largest Painted Dome in the Southeast , Kannapolis, NC
2007 Presbyterian College, “The Spiral of Life” Ceiling Mural Belk Atrium Ceiling- Clinton, SC
Belk Library, “The Quest for Knowledge” Appalachian State University- Boone, NC
2006 St. Mary’s Hospital, New Women’s Center, (4) Ceiling Domes - Athens, GA
2005 Penn-Florida Building, Exterior Wall, Architectural Trompe l’oeil - Boca Raton, FL

Corporate and Non-Profit Sponsors, Private Collections –1974-2014 Murals, Paintings, Prints, Sculpture
United Arts Council, Smithsonian-Air and Space Museum, The Susan and Stephen Geller Foundation, Advertising Club of New York Foundation, DuPont, AT&T, CSX Transportation, Credit Suisse, Gate Petroleum, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, City of Jacksonville, Fl., Synovus Bank, Ist United Bank, Fl. Shurtape Technologies, LLC., Irwin and Carol Belk, Hickory Museum Of Art, NC., Mandarin Historical Museum Permanent Collection, Fl., Castle Cooke, NC., David H. Murdock Foundation, SunBelt, NC., U.S Dept. of Health and Human Services, State of NC., Moet-Chandon, Seagrams Beverages,Inc., IIT Institute, India, John Smoltz, Sidney Kimmel, Roberta Von Schlossberg, Sen. Bob Dole, Llywd Ecclestone and the late Greta Garbo.

Selected Solo Exhibitions- 1980-2012 Murals, Mixed Media, Prints
2016 “The Chinese Wedding” painting dedicated by Dr. Alice Roess to Appalachian State University, NC
2012 “Mural in the Making” Exhibition Hickory Museum of Art, NC.
2011 “Transmission” Ceiling Mural-College of Education, Appalachian State University
2010 “Murals of Hope”, Dedication, Grandfather Home and School for Children, NC
2007 “The Quest for Knowledge”- Dedication sponsored by ASU Foundation - Boone, NC
“The Spiral of Life”- Dedication sponsored by Presbyterian College Foundation, SC
2005 Architectural Trompe l’oeil Mural sponsored by 1st United Bank, Boca Raton, FL
2004 Historic Landmark Mural, Unveiling sponsored by The Boca Raton Historical Society, FL
2000 King Plow Arts Center, mixed media constructions- Atlanta, GA
1999-1980 Selected
Advertising as Art- National Arts Club, New York, NY
Seen and Unseen, Mixed media exhibition, Ingbar Gallery, New York, NY
Spruill Arts Center- “Trompe Loeil” , Atlanta, GA
Eye to the Future, mixed media installation, King Plow Art Center, Atlanta ,GA
Here and Now, mixed media constructions, RVS Gallery, Southhampton , NY
Curators Selection, mixed media constructions and prints, Circle Gallery, New York, NY
Passions, mixed media constructions and prints, Jack Gallery, New York, NY
Selected Publicity and Media
2015 Charlotte Observer, “ Healthy Eating Mural, A National Initiative”
2013 Jacksonville Times Union, Jacksonville, FL., “Native Artist featured in Exhibit”
2012 Hickory Record, “ Mural WOWS Audiences”
2011 New York Times Sunday Magazine, High Country Magazine
2008-9 “The Oprah Winfrey Show”, NBC, FOX, CBS, PBS
The NCRC Dedication, Kannapolis, NC -10/20/08, “Our State Magazine”, NC
Charlotte Observer, “ The Lettuce is 11 feet High “, Front page
Salisbury Post, Independent Tribune, Watauga Democrat, High Country Mag.
2007 “North Carolina Now”, (PBS) UNC-TV, feature Brenda Councill ASU Wall Murals
Sandlapper Magazine, Presbyterian Ceiling Mural, Charleston, SC., Garden and Gun
Georgia Architect Magazine, Institutional Interiors
2006-1977 NBC Today Show, Mike Douglas Show, Dinah Shore Show, ARTV.

"Brenda Councill is one of the great artists in our midst "
-Dr. Larry Wheeler, CEO and Director of The North Carolina Museum of Art

“I selected Brenda Councill and her team after a worldwide search. She exceeded my de- manding expectations, and visitors to my 80,000 sq. ft. Core Laboratory building [at the North Carolina Research Campus] are immediately awestruck, and I am very proud.”
-David H. Murdock, CEO
Dole Food Company, Inc.

“I have awarded Brenda Councill several important commissions that will inspire on a grand scale. Visitors to these Great Halls of Learning and Higher Education will enjoy her work for many generations to come.”
-Irwin Belk, Philanthropist, former UN Ambassador
Commenting on the Appalachian State University Library Mural
Boone, NC

“After climbing one hundred feet of scaffolding, I proclaimed Ms. Councill as ‘Michelle-angelo’! Stunning and vibrant work!”
-Martha Stewart on Superfoods Mural
Kannapolis, NC

“This is a magnificent mural. The faculty and students look up to find the beginning of life, the fusion of a tumultuous, primordial sky, sun radiating its life-giving rays evoking the elemental forces of nature and the evolution of the plant and animal kingdoms. It is more than we could have anticipated.”
-Dr. John Griffith, President
Presbyterian College Clinton, SC

“The Carol Grotnes Belk Library and Information Commons is a point of great pride on this campus and across western North Carolina. The series of murals being painted by Brenda Councill will distinguish this facility even more. It is truly special to have an artist who has such deep roots in the region to bring her talents to this project. Her work wioll be enjoyed by those who visit the library for years.”
-Dr. Kenneth E. Peacock, Former Chancellor
Appalachian State University

Business Name/Organization

Councill Fine Art Studio, LLC

Website

councill.net/

Artwork Entries


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