About Brenda Councill
Internationally known artist,
Brenda Mauney Councill currently specializes in large-scale murals and public sculptures, particularly domed ceilings, tackling projects that often put her high in the world of art. She recently completed the first life-sized bronze scupture of Harriet Beecher Stowe in the US, installed in 2024 in the City of Jacksonville, Fl. Walter Jones Historical Park. She has also completed The Largest Contemporary Painted Dome in the Southeast at the North Carolina Research Campus titled Dole Foods Mural – “Superfoods“. Councill has been doing large-scale projects for the past 20 years, the latest phase in her 45 year, award-winning career. Her projects span the globe and can extend for months with large-scale ceiling and wall murals and Public Art installed in landmark buildings and public spaces.
Martha Stewart visited the David H. Murdock Core Laboratory Building’s ceiling dome, climbed the 100 feet of scaffolding to meet the artist, and exclaimed, “Councill is Michelle-angelo!”. Ms. Councill’s work has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show after the media titan visited North Carolina. Her popularity among collectors and the public’s interest has been the focus of a PBS/UNC-TV segment on the artist. FOX, CBS and NBC affiliates have all run footage on Councill’s painted ceilings and other public art projects. Press continued >>
Educational Projects awarded…
to Councill include massive murals, “The Quest for Knowledge” in the new Belk Library on the campus o Appalachian State University in North Carolina. Her newest monumental sculptural ceiling mural commission, on campus, includes bas-relief embossed copper elements combined with a narrative mural crowning the grand foyer of the College of Education Building. Another signature ceiling mural on the subject of Biology, “The Spiral of Life” can be seen in the Belk Atrium of Presbyterian College in South Carolina. Hickory Museum of Art featured a retrospective of her monumental murals in 2012. She was selected and awarded the commission to paint a symbolic wall by the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai, India. The Percent for Art national public art program selected and commissioned Councill to design the largest gateway mural in the City of Roanoke, Virginia. A life-size bronze sculpture of American impressionist, Elliott Daingerfield was recently installed in North Carolina and Dr. Lawrence Wheeler, CEO and Director of The North Carolina Museum of Art,(RET.) dedicated this sculpture. Dr. Wheeler compared her work to the great female sculptor, Harriet Hosmer.
Brenda was born in Wilmington, NC, but grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. Her career launched in 1963 at the age of 7 with a debut exhibition of paintings at the Jacksonville Museum of Arts and Sciences. Her first televised interview attracted regional attention and earned her important early commissions. At age 11, she designed and supervised the installation of her first outdoor sculpture. This early recognition led to design projects that attracted national media attention, including an appearance on NBC’s Today Show at age 19.
In 1987, she opened a second studio in New York and began an impressive list of solo and group exhibitions, showcasing her signature paintings and mixed metal constructions. A major exhibition at the famed Circle Gallery earned acclaim from sponsors such as the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the Susan and Stephen Geller Foundation, the Advertising Club of New York Foundation, and the National Arts Club.
Corporate collections include DuPont, AT&T, Credit Suisse, British Airways, Moet Chandon, Seagrams, Jones Apparel Group, The Canadian Imperial Bank, Suntrust, Valley National Bank, Synovus Bank, Gate Petroleum. North Carolina based companies have sponsored Councill’s public art; Shurtape Technologies, LLC., Carol and Irwin Belk, Sunbelt,Inc., Castle & Cooke, Inc., Appalachian State University and many more.
Notable private collectors include Roberta Von Schlossberg, philanthropist, Sidney Kimmel, the late Malcom Forbes, David H. Murdock, Llywd Ecclestone, Bob Guccione, Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos, philanthropist, Alice Roess; and Hollywood accolades from the late Greta Garbo, Michael Douglas, Samuel L. Jackson, Connie Stevens, and Martha Stewart.
Councill’s first drawings and prints from the 1970’s are still collected today.
Workshops and Community Outreach
Brenda Councill actively engages the public through art, from leading watercolor workshops aboard European and Caribbean cruises to organizing community paint nights like the 2,500-square-foot mural in Roanoke, Virginia, where neighbors helped bring the project to life as part of the Percent for Art Program.
Cruise Ship Workshop
Brenda Councill leads engaging watercolor workshops aboard cruise ships, offering a creative experience inspired by each unique destination — from the sun-washed shores of the Caribbean to the timeless beauty of Europe. Classes welcome groups as large as 60, while also allowing for one-on-one instruction. These sessions are a favorite among travelers.
Community Outreach
As part of the Percent for Art Program, Brenda Councill led a community paint night where local residents helped complete sections of a 2,500-square-foot mural. Installed across 18 columns in Roanoke, Virginia, the project invited neighbors to take part in the creative process, bringing public art to life through collaboration and shared vision.
Testimonials
Corporate, Non-Profit and Private Collection Sponsors
1974-2021 Murals, Paintings, Prints and Sculpture (Partial List)
