Slamdance 2023 Film Festival – Don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of the Black abstract artist and sculptor Peter Bradley. For decades, he was unable to get a gallery show after some success in the 1970s in New York City. However, now in his 80s, Bradley is having quite a second act, landing solo exhibitions again and renewed interest and critical reception to his work. Director Alex Rappoport’s documentary, With Peter Bradley, is a fascinating and inspiring look into the artist’s life and process. It’s a testament to persistence and being true to yourself.

For about 90 minutes, Rappoport invites viewers into Bradley’s home in the Hudson Valley. He muses on his family history, including his adoption and closeness with his mother, who encouraged him to paint. He also recalls how his childhood home in Connellsville, PA, right outside of Pittsburgh, was always open to various jazz artists. Music lovers will get a kick out Bradley’s stories about hanging out with legends like Miles Davis and Art Blakey. Jazz remains a key inspiration in the artist’s life and is typically playing anytime he paints. He’s quick to show off his music collection and namedrop the greats. Hearing Bradley talk about color and music is thought-provoking.

Bradley also shares first-hand accounts of what the art world was like in the 1970s for Black creatives. While Bradley had some successes and also worked as the associate director of the Perls Galleries, this period wasn’t without its challenges. Bradley struggled to sell his paintings or land many solo exhibits, let alone attract white audience members to his shows. Yet, he never comes across as a bitter. Rather, in front of the camera, he simply shares his experiences. This isn’t a documentary out to rehash the sins of the past, but instead, give a sweeping overview of an artist’s life, some of the highs and some of the lows, including a period in the 1980s when Bradley was homeless and slept in abandoned cars. Bradley even admits to straddling a racial fence. White audiences didn’t respond to his work, and yet, because Bradley’s work wasn’t political, he also struggled to attract a Black audience.

Yet, there’s a persistence to Bradley’s work ethic that has to be admired. He paints daily, and the scenes watching his artistic process unfold are fascinating, even for someone who has rarely picked up a paintbrush. This is a guy unafraid to express when he thinks his own painting failed to meet the intended vision. There’s a remarkable candor to Bradley that makes a viewer feel like they’re simply having a conversation with him as he pauses for a moment from the canvas.

With Peter Bradley gives insight into an artist finally getting the attention he deserves. The documentary feels intimate, like being invited into a creative’s personal studio so they can show you how they work, while also sharing their philosophy about life. Bradley never stopped painting, but now the world is finally paying attention again.

7 Out of 10