Historical Preservation Advocacy Through Art
Bradley Giles is a listed fine artist and has over 30 years experience in the custom fine art, themed entertainment, interior design, museum and private residential environments. With a degree in commercial art, Bradley is for the most part, a self-taught fine artist, drawing his inspiration for his painting techniques from master painters such as John Singer Sargent, Thomas Moran, Frederic Remington, Joseph Henry Sharp, N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Harvey Dunn, Frank E. Schoonover, Arthur Mathews, Howard Von Schmidt, Maynard Dixon, Albert Bierstadt, Howard Terpning, Tom Lovell, master paleo artists Zdenek Burian and Charles R. Knight.
“My genres of oil paintings range from the atmospheric, historical epic scenes of the past, to pastoral, ethereal landscapes and emotionally gripping images of environmental, social, political historical statements of our past and present…with a visionary portal to our future world landscapes.
Through my previous collaborations with various historians, archaeologists, scientists and Native American tribal leaders, it is my goal to have as much concise historical interpretation in my current and future painting presentations. It is this advocacy through art, that I use that information as a portal to the historical past, present and future, to bring awareness and to educate the viewer on the need to protect and preserve existing key historical and cultural landscape sites of the natural world from the ever present specter of residential and commercial development.
It is through my paintings that I can bring back to life, the multitude of colorful, dynamic and atmospheric historical sites and landscape vistas lost so long ago. The viewer can experience for a fleeting moment, with all of their senses, the awe inspiring energy of a long ago age… sites that have unfortunately become casualties of humanities relentless quest to conquer the land.
This, is one of the very reasons why myself, as well as many other artists of the past and present, paint these type of historical landscape scenes of the natural world, to document them for future generations, before those too are but only a fleeting memory to those living now on this Earth.”
Bradley has been commissioned to paint large-scale murals as well as various scenic / faux finishing projects for the Mandalay Bay, New York, New York, Luxor, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, Las Vegas Hilton as well as many private estates throughout the United States.
Aside from his fine art paintings, Bradley’s other artistic specialties include a wide range of faux finishes, including stone, marble, wood, aged walls, organic custom textures and cement rock carving, painted sculpted animals and human figures, gold, silver and copper leafing, various metal patinas, Venetian Plaster, fine art landscape and portrait oil on canvas paintings, murals, painted decorative furniture, as well as custom oil on canvas and pencil architectural elevation paintings and drawings.
“Your depiction of Rafael Rivera surveying the Las Vegas valley in 1829 is a wonderful Painting. I thoroughly enjoy sharing your work with the many people that meet with me throughout the day. Your work fits perfectly with the renowned paintings from the Smithsonian Institution that hang alongside it. I am honored to be able to display your work in my office.” Nevada Senator Harry Reid – Former United States Senate Majority Leader
Bradley’s paintings are on permanent exhibit with the City of Las Vegas City Hall public art collections, at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Park, the Senate Hart Building in Washington D.C., were exhibited in the U.S. Capitol, in the office of the late Senate Majority Leader Nevada Senator Harry Reid, has been published in many books and articles, profiled in an ABC Channel 13 Las Vegas news segment and featured in Outdoor Nevada PBS Las Vegas.
Exhibitions:
2025 – California Art Club “Echoes of Yosmite” Exhibition at the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art, Moraga, California, September 17 – December 14, 2025
2025 – Oil Painter’s of America 2025 Western Regional Exhibition at the Illume Gallery West, 30 Broadway St., Philipsburg, Montana, July 11 – August 15, 2025.
2025 – California Art Club “A Summers Night” Virtual Art Exhibition, June 23 – September 19, 2025.
2025 – 114th California Art Club Annual Gold Medal Exhibition at the VEFA Gallery (Visual Experience Fine Art) in Torrance, California, June 11 – August 9, 2025.
2025 – California Desert Plein Air / Skidmore Contemporary Art juried art exhibition June 7 – 30, 2025, Palm Desert, California
2025 – Desert Art Center “The Mid Mod Show” Exhibition 2025 at the Desert Art Center in Palm Springs, California. February 7 – March 23, 2025. 2nd Place People’s Choice Award
2025 – 55th Annual Artist Council Exhibition (ACE) and Juried Show, Artist Center at the Galen – Palm Desert, California – February 5 – March 2, 2025.
2025 – 4th annual Desert Plein Air Association Juried Art Competition and Exhibition, January 16 – February 2, 2025, Artist Center at the Galen – Palm Desert, California. “Land of the Cahuilla” awarded First Place.
2025 – Desert Open Studios – January 25 & 26, 2025 – Cathedral City, California. 2024 – Palm Springs Modernism Show – October 25 – 27, 2024 – Palm Springs, California.
2024 – California Art Club 113th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition at the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University – August 20 – October 26, 2024.
2024 – Oil Painters of America 33rd National Juried Exhibition at the Mark Arts Gallery – April 5 – May 31, 2024 – Wichita, Kansas.
2024 – Palm Springs Modernism Show – February 16 – 19, 2024 – Palm Springs, California.
2023 – California Art Club – “The Four Seasons of the Inland Empire” – Virtual Exhibition: October 16 – November 25, 2023.
2023 – Artist Council – Artist Center at the Galen – “Earth” Exhibition: October 12 – November 5, 2023 – Palm Desert, California.
2023 – Oil Painters of American Western Art Exhibition – October 6 – October 30, 2023 – Salt Lake City, Utah.
2023 – Current: My two paintings titled “Shaman Rock” and Escape From the Slave Traders” were purchased by the City of Las Vegas and are now included in the City of Las Vegas permanent public art collection. The two paintings are on permanent public exhibit in the Las Vegas City Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada.
2023 – Artist Council – Artist Center at the Galen – Exhibition: February 16 – March 19, 2023 – Palm Desert, California.
2021 – California Art Club – “Mars: An Artistic Mission” – Virtual Exhibition: February 18 – May 31, 2021.
2020 – California Art Club – “From the Sierra to the Sea” – Exhibition: January 24 – March 12, 2020 – Folsom, California.
2017 – Current The painting of Rafael Rivera was purchased by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in 2007 and on display in the his office in the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. from 2002 – 2017. Upon his retirement in 2017, Senator Reid donated my painting “Rafael Rivera in
the Las Vegas Valley December 1829” to the incoming and current Nevada Senator Jackie Rosen. The painting is currently in the Nevada senator’s office in the Senate Hart Building, Washington D.C. and will most likely be handed down to future Nevada senators as part of the Nevada government art collections.
2016 – Artists Council – University of California Riverside – “Community” – Exhibition: March 3 – April 22, 2016 – Palm Desert, California.
2016 – 5th annual Tour of Historic and Artist Homes – Exhibition: February 28, 2016 – Cathedral City, California.
2015 – Current – Historical painting of the Las Vegas Mormon Fort titled “Sunset at the Las Vegas Mormon Fort 1857” was purchased by Friends of the Fort, now permanently exhibited in the Old Mormon Fort State Park, Las Vegas, Nevada.
2015 – Artist Council – Palm Springs Art Museum -Exhibition: October 20 – December 6, 2015 – Palm Springs, California.
2015 – Archangel Gallery – Group Show – Exhibition: Friday September 18, 2015 – Palm Springs, California.
2015 – Artist Council – Saguaro Hotel – Exhibition: May 6 – June 2, 2015 – Palm Springs, California.
2009 – 2016: Prehistoric paintings of Columbian Mammoths, Shasta Ground Sloths and other Mega Fauna were exhibited at the Las Vegas Museum and Historical Society and Las Vegas Natural History Museum.
2005 – Current – Historical painting of the Las Vegas Mormon Fort titled “Las Vegas Mormon Fort, July 4, 1855” was commissioned by the State of Nevada for the 100 Murals Centennial Project to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of founding of Las Vegas in 1905. Now permanently exhibited in the Old Mormon Fort State Park, Las Vegas, Nevada.
2002 – 2017: Painting of Rafael Rivera was purchased by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in 2007. The canvas was on display in Senator Reid’s office in the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
2002-2007: Four Historical paintings of the Las Vegas valley were displayed in the office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C.
2001-2002: Historical painting of the Las Vegas Mormon Fort was on exhibit at the Las Vegas State Museum and Historical Society.
Commissions:
2023: Painted a 24″ x 36″ fish market genre oil painting for client in San Antonio, Texas
2022: Painted a 19′ x 21′ ceiling, in a Mid Century townhouse in Palm Springs, California, depicting an atmospheric sky and clouds.
2020: Painted a 20″ x 30″ oil on canvas depicting a client’s 1880’s Victorian Farmhouse, located in Meridian, California.
2019: Painted a 58″ x 24″ oil on canvas for a client, depicting the world famous Grizzly Giant Sequoia, in Yosemite National Park.
2018: Painted a 9″ x 10″ oil on canvas depicting a horse and rider under an ancient California Sycamore Tree, located in the central San Joaquin Valley.
2018: Painted a 9″ x 10″ oil on canvas depicting a pastoral scene of cows under an ancient California Sycamore Tree, located in the central San Joaquin Valley.
2018: Painted a 12″ x 24″ oil on canvas depicting a pastoral scene of cows under an ancient California Sycamore Tree, located in the central San Joaquin Valley.
2018: Painted a 31″ x 45″ oil on canvas painting titled “El Capitan Firefall” for a client’s private art collection. The painting depicts Yosemite’s El Capitan at a certain time of year, when the setting sun aligns at the right moment with the Horsetail Falls off El Capitan, creating the illusion of “fire” or “lava” flowing over the rock face of El Capitan.
2018: Painted a 26″ x 31″ oil on canvas titled “Summer Storm Clouds Over Lake Tahoe”, for a client’s private art collection.
2015: Painted a 28″ x 60″ oil on canvas titled “The Eruption of Mount Vesuvius From the Heights of Napoli”, for a client’s private art collection.
2014: Painted a 72″ x 60″ oil on wood panel, folding room screen, depicting Andreas Canyon, of the Indian Canyons region of Palm Springs, California.
2012: Painted five mural folding door panels for a formal dining room in a 1920’s estate in the Presidio Heights area of San Francisco, California. The panels were produced under the art direction of noted landscape architect /designer / artist Wayne David Hand. They depict a California native landscape with classic architectural elements, structures and was inspired from early California artist Arthur F. Mathews (1860 -1945). The oval ceiling was also painted depicting a sky with atmospheric clouds, with part of the upper tree canopies blending into the ceiling sky. The architectural elements on the sides and top of the mural panels were also, faux painted to looks like aged stone to blend in with the murals scenes.
2011: Painted a oil on canvas portrait of a client for their private collection.
2009: Painted a canvas for the archaeological firm H.R.A in Las Vegas, Nevada. The painting depicts past Native American life in a region of the Las Vegas valley know as Corn Creek.
2009: Painted a canvas for the archaeological firm H.R.A in Las Vegas, Nevada. The painting is titled “Bishop Ranch – Las Vegas Wash 1901”.
2007: Painted a canvas for Majority Leader Senator Harry Reid of Nevada. The canvas depicts the Mexican Scout Rafael Rivera. He was part of the Armijo expedition that traveled through the Las Vegas valley in December 1829.
2006: Painted a canvas for the archaeological firm H.R.A in Las Vegas Nevada. The painting depicts an Agave roasting pit ceremony of past Native American life in a region of the Las Vegas valley know as the Little Red Rocks.
2005: Art directed and painted a canvas depicting the founding of the Las Vegas Mormon Fort site in June 1855 for the Las Vegas 100 years Murals commission. The State of Nevada purchased the canvas and is now on permanent display at the Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Park Visitor Center, Las Vegas Nevada.
2004: Working with local Paiute Native Americans, Bradley art directed and painted a historical large exterior, public art mural for the City of Henderson, Nevada. The mural depicts Paiute Native Americans of the Whitney Mesa region.
2001: Painted various interior wall finishes for Las Vegas comedian/singer/impersonator Danny Gans for his private residence in Henderson, Nevada.
1999-98: Art directed and painted, interior Indonesian rainforest murals for the reception/ check in desks area for the Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.
1997: Art directed and painted, interior Egyptian hieroglyphic murals for Tutankhamen’s burial chamber for the Egyptian exhibit at the Luxor Hotel, Las Vegas.
1996: Working with project designers, I painted various faux stone finishes for the exterior high rise building facades for the New York, New York Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.
1996: Working with art director Joe De Meis of Landmark Entertainment, I painted various interior faux finishes, 3-D sculpted elements and wall treatments throughout the many scenic, Roman- themed environments of Caesars Magical Empire, Caesars Palace Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.
1996: A large-scale interior mural depicting a scene from the universe was painted for the Star Trek Experience, Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada.
1995: Art directed and painted promotional wall displays for various musical artists to promote the release of their new albums, Tower Records, Las Vegas, Nevada.
1994: Painted various interior faux finishes for the Treasure Island Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Publications, Articles and Awards:
2025: My painting “Dancing to Restore the Eclipsed Sun” was selected by Peter Trippi, Editor-in-Chief of Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, to be featured in the July/August 2025 issue.
2025: My painting “Nocturne Vision Quest” awarded 1st place in the California Art Club “A Summers Night” Virtual Art Exhibition, June 23 – September 19, 2025.
2025: My painting “Cree House 1956” awarded “2nd Place People’s Choice Award” at the opening artist reception for the Desert Art Center “The Mid Mod Show” Exhibition 2025 February 8 at the Desert Art Center in Palm Springs, California.
2025: My painting “Land of the Cahuilla” awarded 1st place in the 4th annual Desert Plein Air Association juried art competition, at the opening artists reception at the Artist Center in Palm Desert, California January 17, 2025.
2023: My painting images titled “Las Vegas Mormon Fort, July 4, 1855” and “Sunset at the Las Vegas Mormon Fort” were used for publication for a private book printing, detailing the accounts and diaries of the first Mormon settlers at the Las Vegas Mormon Fort, Las Vegas, Nevada.
2023: My two paintings titled “Shaman Rock” and “Escape From the Slave Traders” were purchased by the City of Las Vegas and are now included in the City of Las Vegas permanent public art collection. The two paintings are on public exhibit in the Las Vegas City Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada.
2016: My prehistoric genre painting “Las Vegas Marshland- Pleistocene Era” depicting extinct Columbian Mammoths and American Lion was featured in PBS Outdoor Nevada Season1 Episode 2 “American Symbols of the West” on February 5, 2016.
2013: My painting images for “Giant Shasta Ground Sloth – Pleistocene Era” and “Agave Roasting Pit Ceremony” are featured in the book “Red Rock Canyon Visitor Guide”. Published by Snell Press.
2010: My painting images for “Las Vegas Marshland-Pleistocene Era”, “Agave Roasting Pit Ceremony” and “Armijo Expedition- Las Vegas Wash, December 1829″ are featured in the book “Southern Nevada Bouldering”. Published by Snell Press.
2010: Painted cover art for “The Archaeological Adventures of I.V. Jones” Published by the University of Utah Press.
2007: Painted cover art titled “Armijo Expedition- Las Vegas Wash, December 1829”, which was featured as cover art for the book “Passing Through- The History of Clark County Wetlands Park – Henderson, Nevada”. Published by HRA inc. Conservation Archeology, prepared for Southern Nevada Water Authority and Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Regional Office, Boulder City, Nevada.
2006: Painted cover art depicting a Southern Nevada Paiute Agave Roasting Pit ceremony for the 30th Great Basin Anthropological Conference program, held in Las Vegas, Nevada – October 19 – 22, 2006. Published by HRA inc. Conservation Archeology.
2005: Painted cover art for “Desert Oasis – The Prehistory of Clark County Wetlands Park, Henderson, Nevada. The scene depicts early Native American settlements along the Las Vegas Wash 3000 BC – 500 AD based on excavation surveys and artifacts found at the sites. Published by HRA inc. Conservation Archeology.
2005: Painted cover art for “Protecting the Past – Archaeology and the Las Vegas Valley’s Water Treatment and Transmission Facilities” Published by HRA inc. Conservation Archeology.
2005: Historical art of my commissioned Las Vegas Mormon Fort canvas featured in Las Vegas’ City of 100 Murals Centennial catalog.
2004: Las Vegas Sun June 2, 2004 feature article covering the commissioned Paiute Native American Mural for the City of Henderson, Nevada.
2004: Channel 13 Las Vegas, August 4, 2004 newscast. It featured a segment covering my artwork of the Little Red Rock archaeological sites, their vandalism and the need for protection from development.
2004: Q-Vegas Magazine July and August issues featured my Op-Ed on my Las Vegas valley prehistorical paintings as they depict archaeological sites of the Little Red Rock region of the Las Vegas valley that are threatened by development and vandalism.
1983: 1st Place awarded for best rendering of General Motors Fisher Body logo for General Motors Art Competition.
Art Organization Memberships:
California Art Club
Oil Painters of America
Artist Council
Desert Plein Air Association