Artist Statement

Turning Challenges into Art

Brunner holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Bethany College and a master’s of fine arts in sculpture from Wichita State University. After completing post-graduate studies in 1979, he worked for Trotter Brothers, designing and manufacturing theatrical props, puppets and stages. He then served as production supervisor at the Design Centre, overseeing the conception and fabrication of wildly diverse yet purposeful displays for trade shows, retail venues and more. A 30-foot iceberg. A 20-foot champagne bottle. The world’s largest Christmas tree. In these creations, Brunner learned to tackle difficult problems with originality and vision.

An active artist for more than 40 years, Brunner is equally adept with public art projects, private commissions or themed exhibitions. Landscape art. Modern sculpture. Environmental sculpture. His work includes a monolithic sculpture for ABC-TV’s “Extreme Home Makeover.” He also collaborated on design and production of a large-scale public art of a stone battleship, earthworks, outdoor art and interpretive exhibit on the grounds of Wichita’s Mid-America All-Indian Center, located at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers.

Brunner is married to Sonia Greteman and is protected by the Schipperke Security Company.