Eric James Bransby was born in 1916 in Auburn, New York to Lillian Holland Dowsett Bransby and Charles Carson Bransby. He was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and then in Council Bluffs, Iowa. His father was born in Manchester, England, raised in Scotland and was a preacher. His mother was born in New Zealand and raised in London, England. Bransby was married for nearly 70 years to Mary Ann, until her death in August, 2011. Mary Ann Hemmie, daughter of Joe and Lillian Hemmie was an artist and educator. Mary Ann attended the Kansas City Art Institute on a scholarship and studied silversmithing. She studied and mastered watercolor painting under Thomas Hart Benton. Two weeks before the Pearl Harbor Attack in December 1941, Mary Ann married Eric Bransby, who was a fellow student;. Their daughter, Fredericka was born in June, 1943. Their daughter developed asthma and the family returned to Colorado Springs for a more favorable climate for Fredericka. He turned 100 in October 2016.
Bransby served as a soldier in the Army during World War II. His wife designed parts and die forms for B-52 bombers.
Career
Bransby taught at Yale University, Brigham Young University, and University of Missouri in Kansas City. His wife also taught at Brigham Young University.
Works
Resilience mural, made for the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center's Glass Corridor, was made to celebrate the center's 75th Anniversary. The mural includes the history of the center and art forms, including dance, theatre and music. The 5' by 27' mural was made when Bransby was 94 years of age and was dedicated April 20, 2012. After his wife's death former art student, Rev. Bradford N. Bray, suggested to Bransby to add her to the mural of the History of the Fine Arts Center. She was depicted as a student of Robinson.
Frescos were repainted by Bransby over the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center's front entrance for its 50th Anniversary. The frescos were originally painted by Boardman Robinson in 1936, but had faded over time. Blake Milteer, the museum's director stated that: "Bransby masterfully enhanced Robinson's original forms with his own details on the original facade."
Student Achievement mural, Nichols Hall, Kansas State University. The mural, dedicated on October 10, 1986, depicts the history of Nichols Hall on the east wall of the atrium.
History of Navigation was commissioned by the United States Air Force Planetarium and has been on loan from the Air Force Academy to the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Made the year before the moon landing, mural panels totally 30 feet in length, depict navigation history up to space travel. The work was made in polymer and tempera.
Mural on a wall of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. The mural was torn down during a renovation in the 1970s.
