Candida von Braun, a fifth-generation visual artist, brings a legacy of creative mastery to her work, seamlessly blending painting, architecture, and photography. Her pieces are housed in prominent collections across Germany, Spain, Italy, and the United States, each embodying the depth and elegance that define her distinguished career.
Candida von Braun’s artistic vision draws deeply from her classical dressage training with her Lusitano stallions, where technique and empathy unite to form a powerful aesthetic language. Her work captures abstract emotional impressions from her travels and explores intricate patterns and colors through her lens. Beyond painting, von Braun has photographed world-renowned equestrians and horses, and her work has been featured in Piaffe Magazine, Germany’s premier equestrian publication.
The book Wege zur Leichtigkeit in der Klassischen Dressur, co-created by Dominique Barbier with significant contributions from Candida von Braun, was published by Wu Wei Verlag in 2009. This well-regarded book has become a classic for its ability to merge the instructional with the artistic. Noted for its beautiful visual presentation and the high quality of von Braun’s photographic work, the book brings a fresh elegance to Barbier’s teachings. Reviewers often highlight the tactile appeal and cohesive design, which von Braun meticulously developed to integrate new images with historic ones, creating a harmonious visual narrative that supports Barbier’s insights into classical dressage
Candida von Braun’s artistry has captured international attention, with her paintings showcased in Contemporary International Artists, Vol. X, a prestigious fine art publication. In a defining moment of her career, von Braun’s work was selected from a pool of 300,000 artists to be displayed across a 23-story Times Square billboard as part of New York’s acclaimed See|Me Show, spotlighting five of her equestrian-inspired paintings for the global stage. Her dedication to the art of dressage extends beyond her visual work, as she serves as Vice President of the Society for the Preservation of the Equestrian Arts, championing the cultural legacy of the equestrian world.
Before dedicating herself fully to her art, von Braun co-founded Michael Shepherd Architects, AIA, where she directed the design and development of high-end residential projects, including collaborations with Nike and the Portland Zoo. The firm received the prestigious National AIA Residential Design Award in 2007. Candida holds a Master of Architecture from Montana State University, where her studies continue to inspire the structural elegance and precision evident in her artwork.
Candida von Braun’s artistry is steeped in a lineage of creative mastery spanning five generations. Her great-great-great-grandfather, Leo von Klenze, a pioneer of neoclassical architecture, served as royal architect to King Ludwig I of Bavaria. Von Klenze transformed Munich into a cultural capital, designing landmarks such as the Glyptothek, a museum for ancient sculpture, the Alte Pinakothek gallery, and the iconic Königsplatz, all of which embody the city’s classical heritage.
This legacy continued with Candida’s great-great-grandfather, Angelo Graf von Courten, an official painter for King Ludwig II. His skill in historical and religious art led to commissions for the lavish ceiling paintings and interiors of Herrenchiemsee, Ludwig’s Versailles-inspired palace. Candida’s great-grandfather was a portraitist for Bavaria’s royal court, while her mother, Selina von Braun, furthered the family’s artistic presence with exhibitions in Germany and the United States, including a solo show at the High Museum of Modern Art in Atlanta. Her aunt, Candida Schlichting, achieved international recognition as a fine art photographer, with works exhibited across Russia, Denmark, Germany, and Spain.
Reflecting on her upbringing, von Braun shares, “We had no television growing up. Whenever I felt bored, my mother introduced me to another medium. I spent my days immersed in printmaking, painting, sketching, sculpting, and photographing.” This rich, multi-disciplinary environment instilled in her a profound appreciation for creative expression, forming the foundation of her unique vision as an artist.
