Bran Oswalt, AICA

Bran Oswalt is the fifth generation co-owner and lead memorial designer of Brown Memorials.  Since 2011, he has studied with many of the brightest minds in the industry, learning the principles of good memorial design.  He’s practiced these principles within the design and craft of hundreds of memorials, primarily across the southeastern United States.  His design style often blends classic and contemporary elements and has been described as “simple elegance”.  Since 2016, his creative works have garnered twenty-seven North American memorial design awards, among the highest in the industry. 

Bran’s professional journey into visual arts began as a young adult.  In 2008, he founded a small business that made custom shoes and sold t-shirts featuring original art.  Each pair of shoes were tailored to a theme set by the client.  This knack for personalization would later become a distinguishing feature of his memorial design.

Over the next few years, he collaborated with a number of local artists to promote the positive role of art in the Pee Dee region.  In 2010, their combined efforts founded the Railroad Junction art collective in downtown Florence. This collective provided a place for artists to work and display their creations.  

During this time, his primary mediums were canvas paintings and wood carvings.  Many of the works created at this time are now in private collections.  Some of the wood carvings are on display at Red Bone Alley and HopeHealth in Florence.

In 2015, Play Me I’m Yours, by internationally acclaimed artist Luke Jerram, was hosted in Florence thanks in part to local art benefactor, Reynolds Williams.  This visionary project has entertained millions by displaying artist designed pianos in public spaces across the world.  Dozens of artists across the Pee Dee responded to the call to craft the pianos.  Bran’s piano was awarded first place, and is still on display and bringing joy to people at the McLeod Center for Cancer Treatment and Research.

The pursuit of creativity has always been Bran’s driving force. In 2011, an opportunity to join his family’s monument company changed his course, and has since allowed his creativity to positively impact more people than he ever thought before.  At that time, he began practicing the true art of memorial design.  

“This deeply personal and historical art is often associated with the stigma of death, but I view this practice as interpreting life.”  Early on, he challenged the perceptions of memorial headstone design; his focus is to create works of art in stone, steel and glass. He resolves to make innovative memorials that are as relevant 100 years from now as they are today.  

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