With major portraits in the finest collections, including the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute, the Steinway Hall historical portrait collection, and the House of Commons of Canada, American
born artist Paul Wyse has firmly established himself as one of North America's finest portrait painters. His list of notable clients includes pop legend Billy Joel, Kennedy Center Award winning conductor and pianist Leon Fleisher, The Archbishop of Canada and Ottawa Seraphim, and former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin. The recipient of the “Best Portrait Award” in The Portrait Society of Canada's annual competition, he was trained by some of America’s foremost teachers including Everett Raymond Kinstler and Daniel Greene, with a full classical background in drawing and painting from the Atelier de Brésoles, and supplementary courses from the Art Student’s League of New York.

Also a world class pianist, he has appeared in concert such as Avery Fischer Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and before the Royal Family of Monaco, performing alongside such greats as Michael Tilson-Thomas, Vladimir Feltsman, and Gloria Estefan. Through the lineage of his musical mentors, he carries on a tradition that can be traced through the legendary masters Artur Schnabel and Karl Czerny, which leads directly back to Ludwig Van Beethoven. With this, he joins a rarified list of Artist-Musicians which includes Leonardo Da Vinci, Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky and John Singer Sargent.

Throughout the opening weekend of the 2020 Festival of the Arts, Paul
will be in residence in Big Rapids—delivering the keynote address at our opening reception on Friday evening, conducting a portrait demonstration on Saturday afternoon, and concluding with a piano performance on Sunday afternoon. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet a truly one-of-a-kind artist.

More information can be found at: www.brfota.org