Broderson Backdrops

Broderson Backdrops Original hand-painted backdrops for photography, advertising, film, video, events and decor. Stock rentals and custom creation available upon request.

Broderson Backdrops is New York City's premier backdrop rental house, hosting the ever expanding archives of renowned scenic backdrop artist Charles Broderson. Broderson Backdrops offers:

- stock rental backdrops + custom backdrop creation
- day rental studio for photographers, castings, and general creative production
- style and Production services by Cynthia Altoriso
- private collodion port

rait sessions by photographer Robert Christian Malmberg available upon request


Company History:

Charles Broderson, a N.Y. artist has been painting backdrops since 1974. Educated in both commercial and fine art, Charles had a short stint as a model with the prestigious Wilhelmina Model Agency. It was while networking the photo/advertising community that Charles discovered his market. Creative photographers and art directors were hungry for an exciting alternative to seamless paper. The concept worked beautifully for the first few visionaries open to this new, though classical imagery. With a backdrop they were able to create in their studio, atmosphere limited only by the imagination. Charles could paint a scene of any place around the world, or out of it. It was simply a matter of time before the larger commercial world discovered the sense and security provided by backdrops, both scenic and textured design. No setbacks due to inclement weather, location, restricted budgets, or simply what creative direction to take. For Charles, it has always been a pleasure to collaborate with fellow artists on challenging assignments.This is evident when viewing the City Scape series (drop #'s 1037 - 1044) commissioned by Bonwitt Teller (1980), and the 'La Belle Epoque' series of Rose Gardens, and Newport Sea Scapes (drop #'s 1075 - 1080) commissioned by the legendary Grande'Dame of fashion Diana Vreeland for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute (1982). While working on the 'Chariots of Fire' campaign for Bloomingdales, Charles re-discovered a new genre. Experiencing both mastery and pleasure in this technique, he put the `textured' backdrop on the map. Both a far sighted artist and innovator, Charles has an uncanny sense for creating new trends that are compatable with the everchanging demands of the world of fashion and advertising. For those of you discovering Broderson Backdrops for the first time, welcome. And to our many faithful clients, thank you for your support and appreciation. Brief History: A native New Yorker, Charles attended the H.S. of Art & Design / NYC and The School of Visual Arts/ NYC. Scholarships to Europe, followed by extensive travel throughout Asia was great inspiration for some scenic panoramas.

Grant Wood above the greenhouse sink, …. I could imagine if Grant owned a truck it might have been a , pic 2 😂, on the...
04/29/2026

Grant Wood above the greenhouse sink, …. I could imagine if Grant owned a truck it might have been a , pic 2 😂, on the rolling bucolic hills of the countryside,

Sculptoral female mystery , brava ph , 🙌
04/29/2026

Sculptoral female mystery , brava ph , 🙌

pic of me in early 80’s for a piece in an NYC artsy magazine, not long after completing a 6 week long , 15 hours per day...
04/28/2026

pic of me in early 80’s for a piece in an NYC artsy magazine, not long after completing a 6 week long , 15 hours per day, commissioned set of 8 interlocking 10’x 12’ paintings for Bonwit Tellers Woman’s Store NYC windows in late 70’s, the paintings, on scrolled gessoed canvas were driven by me in early evening 2 at a time from Union Square to the uptown store , in my 2nd hand early 70’s cobalt blue Karman Ghia convertible with top down, ( see pic 2 of 1 painting ) later on after those window were disassembled, photographer Horst P Horst used these canvases regularly for fashion productions.

part 2Me, me & more me 🤣, in mid 70’s , part time model at Wilhelmina, recalling when our Softball team played other tea...
04/27/2026

part 2
Me, me & more me 🤣, in mid 70’s , part time model at Wilhelmina, recalling when our Softball team played other teams at the Central Park Baseball diamonds, I’m not a true sports enthusiast, but always had & still have marvelous dexterity, even at present , …. not only was our softball team extraordinary, but anyone observing had to wonder how is it possible that all these players appeared handsome & charismatic, it didn’t effect my natural ‘ oddball ‘ aura ,
・・・

・・・
Reposting a brief memoir 😂
・・・
1974 , almost embarrassing to show pictures of me modeling, giving it my all to compose 👁 popping photos to get booked ( $500. was the day rate for print $$$ , ) it was histerical thinking back , that out of 36 exposures ( no digital downloads then ) my eyes were OPEN for about 10 exposures, 😌, I probably had dry eye syndrome per excess coffee ☕️, but ... the risk to hire me at that day rate was high , too costly back then to retouch / done by a skilled retoucher, with a tiny sable 🔍✒️, my modeling career ended ⚰️, but i changed the industry , by happenstance introducing funky paintings, that stirred the AD fashionistas , jobs poured in to my modeling agency, it was a shocking 😲⚡️⚡️☄️crazy ride , for a decade I was somewhat the toast of the town ! saturdaynightfever 🕺🏿, disguised as an artist wending his shy humble way to somewhere he knew not , studio54 , oh that’s of course villiagepeople behind us charlesbroderson artistsoninstagram getajob, wilhelminamodels , from a time warp🤣. artistsoninstagram nycartist contemporaryart memoir,

My mid 70’s unexpected trajectory, circumstances crossed tracks, after attending HS of Art & Design class of 68, then on...
04/27/2026

My mid 70’s unexpected trajectory, circumstances crossed tracks, after attending HS of Art & Design class of 68, then onto SVA for few years, & renovating lofts in raw SoHo, nyc, while painting, I became friends with a retired professional model , photographer , at Wilhelmina , I was accepted in as a Welshman type, …. during ‘go see’ appointments I got to know more about that industry & its needs, there was a recession occurring during that period, location budgets were diminished, during interviews with photo & film production companies, I was asked what do you really do, stating I was an artist, & was asked to paint a backdrop, I liked the challenge & word got out instantaneously, after painting a few, demand for my services went off the charts, I’m not a trained scenic, who are extraordinary talent artisans, I’ve hired a few & marveled at they’re techniques, however they also learned from my self taught & adaptations to paint large , 10’x 20’ an artist under pressure figures out they’re own techniques to meet relatively short deadlines, pure inventiveness, this story & adventures Ive had along the way is book worthy, I’ve been writing it in chapters, stand by 😌 thanks for listening, have a fab evening

I adore the sound & scent of the ocean shore, salty air , characters that at times inhabit, the sea as extraordinarily b...
04/25/2026

I adore the sound & scent of the ocean shore, salty air , characters that at times inhabit, the sea as extraordinarily beautiful as it is, can be unforgiving
ph ,

Address

Ellenville, NY
12566

Telephone

+12129259392

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Broderson Backdrops posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Broderson Backdrops:

Shortcuts

Share