Bridger Barksdale (28) is an award-winning watercolor artist and painter from Utah. His accolades include first place in the Mountain Maryland Plein Air Competition and second place in the 13th Watermedia Showcase. Bridger’s journey into the visual arts began in 2016 when he moved to Arizona to study design under his late grandfather, Ralph Barksdale. Within months, he won first place at the Eccles Plein Air Painting Competition in Ogden, UT.
Growing up surrounded by lights and reflectors in his father's photography studio, Bridger was encouraged to think about composition from an early age.
As a teenager, he spent five years in Maryland and New York studying classical ballet under internationally distinguished instructors at CityDance Conservatory and the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.
After his studies in Arizona, Bridger accepted a gilding position at Master Works Frames, where he honed additional artistic skills such as design, engineering, and installation.
In late 2020, Bridger lived in L’viv, Ukraine, where he regularly met with local artists and creatives. This experience culminated in a solo exhibition of watercolors in homage to L’viv. Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Bridger created a second solo exhibition titled City of Lions, a collection of 14 works on paper.
In early 2023, Bridger spent three weeks in the historic town of Helper, UT, known for its vibrant art community. After completing a 3-week internship at The Helper Workshops, he made the decision to relocate there the following year. After Interning under David Dornan, Bridger won first place at the Mountain Maryland Plein Air Competition, exhibited at the 99th Springville Salon, and was featured in an issue of Southwest Art Magazine’s 21 Under 31. Vermont Artist Charlie Hunter noted how Bridger’s painting Wet Cement "captured a specific moment in time with love, respect, and humor."
At the start of 2024, Bridger relocated to Helper as a full-time intern, creating work for his solo exhibition Up Close and Personal, a collection of small oil paintings that sold out at the opening reception. Immediately after, Bridger traveled to Pennsylvania to participate in the 16th Annual Plein Air Festival at The Wayne Art Center, where he received the Michael Harding and Ampersand Awards for his painting Chanticleer Tents.
Amidst his success in 2024, Bridger was also accepted into The Rhode Island School of Design on a full-tuition scholarship, where he will begin Foundational Studies and Spatial Dynamics.
Bridger is grateful for your interest in his work and the opportunity to share his unique interpretation of culture and art.