BPL’s Mural by Artist Bud Riley

“A Dream Come True,” Bud Riley dreamed of painting a wall, a big wall, and his dream became a reality in a mural measuring 14′ high and 40′ wide, covering a wall in the Information Services Department. “Bud’s Bridgeport”, a gift to the people of Bridgeport for generations to come.

A century of Bridgeport’s history (1836-1936) created in a unique style developed and perfected by the artist. Drawn on linen, mounted on a wall, in sepia acrylic brushed over line drawings, is a series of people and events overlapping each other to create a panoramic view of Bridgeport’s past glory and industrial development.

As one moves from a distance towards the mural, a new scene or person comes clearly into view. A credit to the artist’s style of superimposing people and events. From the first Mayor, Isaac Sherman to the Mayor of the 1930′s, Jasper McLevy; from a horse drawn carriage of the 1800′s to the streamlined truck bodies of the Carlson Brothers of Metropolitan Body;
from the ballygoo of P.T. Barnum and Tom Thumb to the dignified visit of Abraham Lincoln; a hundred years of growth unfold on the Reference Department wall of the Bridgeport Public Library.

All sequences have been thoroughly researched by the artist in the Library’s Historical Collections.

Bud Riley

Bernard J. Riley was born in Bridgeport, son of John and Anna
Buckley Riley. He attended Elias Howe School and graduated from Central High School. He studied with a number of distinguished artists, but was largely self-taught. His paintings are in the collections of several private individuals as well as those of such estimable institutions as: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City; Corcoran Gallery, Washington, D.C.; the Museum of Art, Science and Industry, Bridgeport; Fairfield University; St. Vincent’s Hospital, Bridgeport, and the Bridgeport Public Library.

Bud was a founder and member of the Third Stream Artists, New Haven Paint and Clay Club, Bridgeport Arts Council and Silvermine Guild of Artists.

Bernard Riley was chosen Fairfield Artist of the Year for 1980
by the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce.

He was married to Marie Radner. They have a son, John.