The paintings and drawings of David Keith Braly combine elements of architecture, landscape and ornamental detail into images that not only evoke their historical precendents but also interpret their immediate surroundings.

Upon graduating from Auburn University in 1979, David practiced architecture in Florence (Alabama) and Washington, D.C. before beginning a teaching career, first at the American College in London in 1982, and then at Auburn University, in 1984, where he became an Associate Professor of Architecture. While artist-in-residence at Eton College in 1996, he taught architectural drawing and mapping to 13-year-old-boys who were, perhaps, more captivated by his "Forrest Gump" accent than his artistic ability. In 2001, he left Auburn in order to exclusively pursue his artistic work.

David's interest in architectural painting began with undergraduate exposure to the renderings of the Ecole des Beaux Arts. It continued with graduate work at Cambridge University, where he studied Roman wall painting and Neo-Classical architecture-particularly the work of Giambatista Piranesi, John Soane and Joseph Gandy. As in the tradition of the 18th century Grand Tour, David has supplemented his formal studies with extensive travel to Italy, where he sketched and painted but also measured ornaments, rooms, gardens and buildings.

David uses these cultural artifacts to guide and inform his artwork-believing their references to history and design provide a more meaningful environment for contemporary living. Beginning with consultations and site visits, loose sketches evolve into elaborate presentation drawings and occasionally into a scaled model, which are in turn used as reference tools in the execution of the work itself. His work is handcrafted and refined with line and color as site specific conditions indicate, all with the ultimate goal of enhancing the proportion, scale and character of the living environment.

Over the last fifteen years, David's commissions have ranged from architectural renderings and watercolor fantasies to large-scale murals and decorative folding screens for residences, businesses and public institutions. He has worked closely with architects and interior designers including John F. Saladino, McAlpine Tankersley Architecture, Barganier, Davis, Sims Architects and McAlpine Booth and Ferrier Interiors. His easel works have been exhibited and represented by Maralyn Wilson in Birmingham, Corporate Art Source and Stonehenge Gallery in Montgomery, Cynthia P. Reed, Ltd. in Washington D.C., and Architech Gallery in Chicago. David's works have been published in House and Garden, Southern Accents, Arts and Antiques, Metropolitan Home, Interior Design, Town and Country and The New York Times. In addition, his works have been featured in two books: Style by Saladino and Empowered Spaces.

In 1994, David was honored with the Classical American Award for Painting for his full scale depictions of classical ornamentation. Most recently he has completed a series of murals and ceiling paintings for the United States Courthouse in Montgomery inspired by the tradition of classical ornament and emblems of constitutional law.