TWO MURALS BY AOTO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRADSTOCK ON DISPLAY AT 2025 ARTPRIZE FESTIVAL
TWO MURALS BY AOTO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRADSTOCK ON DISPLAY AT 2025 ARTPRIZE FESTIVAL
GRAND RAPIDS, MI (September 2025) – “Together,” an “Olympism” art genre painting created by former two-time Olympian Roald Bradstock and nearly 100 Northern New York high school art students to celebrate 100 years of winter sports, was among the featured exhibited works of art at this year’s international ArtPrize festival in Grand Rapids, MI.
ArtPrize, held September 18 to October 4, is one of the world’s largest art competition events drawing nearly one million visitors to 155 venue exhibit sites. “Together” was part of an exhibition of “Olympism” art genre artwork by Bradstock displayed as the featured exhibit in the Grand Rapids Downtown Market.
Known internationally as the “Olympic Picasso,” Bradstock serves as the executive director for the Al Oerter Foundation/Art of the Olympians. The two-time Olympic javelin athlete honed his artistic skills while still competing internationally. His 24-panel, eight-foot by 12-foot “Together” painting is comprised of 184,240 one-eighth inch squares depicting the many elements (flags, sports logos, city names, etc.) that have been part of the past 100 years of Olympic and Paralympic winter games.
Introducing LA Rising: 10-Panel Mural Pays Tribute to the 2025 Devastating LA Fires
“Together” will be one of two of Bradstock’s featured works. His newest – “LA Rising Together” – is a 10-panel two-layered art mural paying tribute and homage to the City of Los Angeles and its people who suffered through apocalyptic fires that ravaged the area in 2025.
“LA Rising,” is comprised of 2028 rings symbolically recognizing the upcoming hosting by Los Angeles of the next Summer Olympic Games – all created and drawn with burnt wood as a symbol of positivity and inspiration. In Grand Rapids, Bradstock will offer visitors to color one of the mural’s 2028 rings.
“The artwork,” explains Bradstock, “represents inclusion through a physical, visual, and interactive gesture and symbol of friendship, respect from one community to another.”
Bradstock’s large “Together” centerpiece work will continue its journey of “community inclusion” at the conclusion of the Grand Rapids arts festival. “Together” will return to New York where plans are being firmed to have the eight-foot by 12-foot painting on exhibit in several locations in a tribute and leadup to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano/Cortina, Italy.
Al Oerter Foundation/Art of the Olympians Media Contact: Steve Apesos s.apesos@artoftheolympians.org
ABOUT THE AL OERTER FOUNDATION/ART OF THE OLYMPIANS
The Al Oerter Foundation (AOF) and its program organization – Art of the Olympians (AOTO) – is a Florida chartered not-for-profit foundation created in 2006 by four-time gold medalist Al Oerter. Through Olympian and Paralympian artists, AOF/AOTO uniquely couples art exhibitions with education by providing programs of art, education, sport, and cultural outreach – both nationally and internationally – to inspire individuals (particularly the youth) to uphold the virtues of the Olympic ideals of excellence, friendship, respect, and fair play.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI (September 2025) – “Together,” an “Olympism” art genre painting created by former two-time Olympian Roald Bradstock and nearly 100 Northern New York high school art students to celebrate 100 years of winter sports, was among the featured exhibited works of art at this year’s international ArtPrize festival in Grand Rapids, MI.
ArtPrize, held September 18 to October 4, is one of the world’s largest art competition events drawing nearly one million visitors to 155 venue exhibit sites. “Together” was part of an exhibition of “Olympism” art genre artwork by Bradstock displayed as the featured exhibit in the Grand Rapids Downtown Market.
Known internationally as the “Olympic Picasso,” Bradstock serves as the executive director for the Al Oerter Foundation/Art of the Olympians. The two-time Olympic javelin athlete honed his artistic skills while still competing internationally. His 24-panel, eight-foot by 12-foot “Together” painting is comprised of 184,240 one-eighth inch squares depicting the many elements (flags, sports logos, city names, etc.) that have been part of the past 100 years of Olympic and Paralympic winter games.
Introducing LA Rising: 10-Panel Mural Pays Tribute to the 2025 Devastating LA Fires
“Together” will be one of two of Bradstock’s featured works. His newest – “LA Rising Together” – is a 10-panel two-layered art mural paying tribute and homage to the City of Los Angeles and its people who suffered through apocalyptic fires that ravaged the area in 2025.
“LA Rising,” is comprised of 2028 rings symbolically recognizing the upcoming hosting by Los Angeles of the next Summer Olympic Games – all created and drawn with burnt wood as a symbol of positivity and inspiration. In Grand Rapids, Bradstock will offer visitors to color one of the mural’s 2028 rings.
“The artwork,” explains Bradstock, “represents inclusion through a physical, visual, and interactive gesture and symbol of friendship, respect from one community to another.”
Bradstock’s large “Together” centerpiece work will continue its journey of “community inclusion” at the conclusion of the Grand Rapids arts festival. “Together” will return to New York where plans are being firmed to have the eight-foot by 12-foot painting on exhibit in several locations in a tribute and leadup to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano/Cortina, Italy.
Al Oerter Foundation/Art of the Olympians Media Contact: Steve Apesos s.apesos@artoftheolympians.org
ABOUT THE AL OERTER FOUNDATION/ART OF THE OLYMPIANS
The Al Oerter Foundation (AOF) and its program organization – Art of the Olympians (AOTO) – is a Florida chartered not-for-profit foundation created in 2006 by four-time gold medalist Al Oerter. Through Olympian and Paralympian artists, AOF/AOTO uniquely couples art exhibitions with education by providing programs of art, education, sport, and cultural outreach – both nationally and internationally – to inspire individuals (particularly the youth) to uphold the virtues of the Olympic ideals of excellence, friendship, respect, and fair play.
