THE ARTIST
Braighlee is a contemporary figurative painter known for her large scale works and life size portraits of embodied women. She grew up in two different towns in California, feeling the power in both the ocean waters, and the snowy mountains. One day climbing trees, pulling apart pine cones to find the pine nuts, with dirt in her clothes, and the next, having sand in her hair, counting the shells, and drawing on the beach. There is still a dichotomy she’s obsessed with and she seeks to try and find that in her paintings and in her little garden studio she works in.
She sees is a balance between ideas like strength and softness, courage and intuition, tenderness and discipline, and she sees these things like the howl of the mountain winds and the roots of the pine trees. LIke these pieces of a puzzle, or a good mystery, she seeks to capture and to put them together through pigment and brush strokes on canvas to tell the stories of women in her life. Her inspiration truly comes from nature, as she cannot create without feeling the sun on her face or a fresh, long walk in the hills near her Nevada home. Slow mornings with her dog are essential to her creating work from the soul to feel that connection to Spirit and Nature to remind her of the reason we are here…To feel that greater connection again.
She paints with hints of charcoal, ink, collage, and gold leaf as the soft harmony while oil paints are the main heart behind her work. Having studied portraiture in Rome, Italy, and completing a year-long online program, she has a diverse range of techniques and influences in her work. Her art challenges historical portrayals of women, offering an emotional, connected and fresh perspective through the feminine gaze paired with intensity, color and symbols.
CV
Braighlee Rainey
(b. 1993)
Braighlee.com | hello@braighlee.com
Exhibitions:
2026 - Sierra Arts Gallery, Reno, Nv
2025 - Wildwood Makers Market Gallery, South Lake Tahoe, Ca
2024 - The Depot Art Gallery, Sparks, Nv
2024 - Reno Tahoe International Art Show, Reno, Nv
2024 - “Women Unveiled”, Wyld Market Gallery via Reno Public Market, Reno, Nv
2023 - “Body of Love”, Wyld Market Gallery via Reno Public Market, July-Sept., Reno, Nv
2023 - Ethereal Group Show, Wallspace Gallery, Reno, Nv
2023 - Reno Tahoe International Art Show, Reno, Nv
2023 - “Women’s History Month”, Wyld Market Gallery via Reno Public Market, Reno, Nv
2022 - October Show, Jones Gallery, Kansas City, Mo
Education:
2022 - Private Group Instruction, with David Kassan & Shana Levenson, Rome, Italy
2022 - Mastery Program Graduate, Milan Art Institute
2012 - Applied Arts and Animation, Butte College, Chico, Ca
Awards, Events, Grants, Interviews & Publishings:
2025 - Creatives Talk Podcast Interview
2025 - Feature in Bold Journey Magazine
2024 - PBS Arteffects Segment that went National
2024 - Nevada Arts Council Grant Recipient, FY24 Project Grant for Artists - Cycle B
2024 - Arts to Hearts Project - Art Magazine & Creative Platform, Women Inside & Out, Issue #6
2023 - Live painting at Reno Public Market Grand Opening, Reno, Nv
2023 - Reno Art Battle at The Generator, Reno, Nv
2011 - “Best in Show” Award, Juried Art Show at Sierra College, Truckee, Ca
Relevant Work in the Arts:
2024 - 2026 - Coach and Mentor for Milan Art Institute
2025 - PBS Reno Northern Nevada Illustration Design to support Arts and Culture in Nevada
2019 - 2022 - Graphic Designer and Creative Team Coordinator, remote position for Los Angeles, Ca
Team Coordinator, Coached new designers and worked with and designed apparel collections for celebrities such as Bo Burnham, and Shawn Mendez, and sole designer for the official Friends Reunion © merchandise
2015 - 2019 - Graphic Designer and Illustrator, Custom Ink, Reno, Nv
2016 - 2018 - Painting and Sip Instructor, Crafted Palette, Reno, Nv
2013 - 2015 - Sign Artist and Painter, Trader Joes, Reno, Nv
Volunteered & Donated:
2025 - Live Painting and Original Painting at The Eddy House, Dessert First Gala
2024 - The Eddy House, Dessert First Gala
Private Collections:
London, UK
Ventura, Ca
Charlottesville, Va
Ashland, Or
Lexington, Ky