BRAN

Bran is an artist whose work is both bold and thought-provoking. He draws inspiration from his military background, having served with the British Special Forces in Afghanistan. Later, he returned to Afghanistan as a photographer and captured iconic images of the Afghan National Police, which were featured in The Sunday Times newspaper.

Bran commented “The whole premise of my work is to simply disarm the weapon, taking something of mass destruction and transforming it into art. I use paper currency which represents capitalism, and the butterflies are a representation of mother nature taking over man-made tools and they also represent the lost souls taken by the deadly weapon”

"the AK-47 is my

blank canvas"

TIMELINE

Bran is a British sculptor, artist, and photographer renowned for transforming instruments of war into powerful works of art. Transitioning from the British Special Forces to the contemporary art world, he redefines symbols of conflict, capitalism, and resilience through his groundbreaking sculptures.

From War to Art: A Journey of Transformation

Born in 1971 in Enfield, UK, Bran began his career as a photographer before enlisting in the British Army Special Forces Reserves in 2004. His deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, became a turning point, exposing him to the raw realities of war. There, he documented Afghan National Police officers who adorned their AK-47s with stickers, roses, and charms—humanizing weapons of destruction in a symbolic act of resilience.

This experience became the foundation of Bran’s artistic vision:

"The whole premise of my work is to simply disarm the weapon—taking something of mass destruction and transforming it into art."

Returning to Afghanistan in 2010 as a photographer, Bran was commissioned by The Sunday Times to document the Afghan National Police, capturing intimate, unfiltered moments. His work led to the critically acclaimed exhibition The Best View of Heaven is from Hell (2011) at Idea Generation Gallery, London, earning a Sunday Times Magazine cover feature.

Redefining Contemporary Sculpture

Bran’s artistic breakthrough came in 2012 with AKA Peace, a landmark exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA). Featuring 23 leading artists curated by Bran—including Damien Hirst, Antony Gormley, and Sarah Lucas—the exhibition reimagined decommissioned AK-47s, raising over £430,000 for Peace One Day.

Bran then pioneered a new form of contemporary sculpture, recontextualizing decommissioned AK-47s by embellishing them with butterflies, currency, and precious materials. His signature works juxtapose destruction and beauty, creating profound statements on violence, capitalism, and nature’s reclamation of human-made tools.

Major Exhibitions & Career Milestones

2011 – The Best View of Heaven is from Hell (Idea Generation Gallery, London)
A powerful photography exhibition capturing Afghan civilians and National Police, revealing the contradictions of war. The show gained widespread media attention, marking Bran’s transition from soldier to artist.
2012 – AKA Peace (Institute of Contemporary Arts, London)
A high-profile exhibition curated by Bran, featuring artists such as Damien Hirst and Gavin Turk, reimagining decommissioned AK-47s. The auction raised £425,000 for Peace One Day, cementing Bran’s influence in the art world.
2019 – Hollywood Reloaded (Annabel’s, Mayfair)
A collaboration with legendary photographer Terry O’Neill, merging iconic Hollywood portraits with gun symbolism and butterflies, challenging the industry’s glorification of firearms.
2021 – Art to Disarm (House of Fine Art, London)
Bran’s debut solo exhibition at HOFA marked the post-lockdown resurgence of the art world. The show sold out entirely, reinforcing his reputation as a leading contemporary artist.
2023 – Solo Exhibition (Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas)
A critically acclaimed exhibition that expanded Bran’s influence in the U.S., leading to increased demand for his work in Texas, California, and beyond. This momentum also sparked collaborations with veterans' charities, strengthening his commitment to art as a tool for healing and advocacy.
2024 – RE:LOADED (Royal Armouries Museum, UK)
Bran’s work was showcased in the UK’s most prestigious weapons museum, highlighting the historical and artistic significance of his sculptures.
2025 – Art to Disarm & The Colony (HOFA, London)
His most ambitious project yet—a live installation featuring leaf-cutting ants interacting with a real AK-47 collaged in U.S. dollar bills. The ants symbolize human society, capitalism, and our obliviousness to war and environmental destruction.

Controversy & Global Recognition

Bran’s work has sparked debate worldwide. In 2016, U.S. Customs (ATF) seized his decommissioned AK-47 sculptures en route to a Houston exhibition, deeming them too controversial despite the country’s widespread gun ownership.

Similarly, in 2017, a collector in New Zealand was required to obtain a firearms license to own one of Bran’s sculptures—highlighting the contradictions in global gun laws. These incidents ignited discussions on gun culture, legality, and the provocative power of art.

Rewriting the Narrative of War & Art

Bran’s work is a collision of contradictions—a reflection of war, peace, capitalism, and nature. Through his sculptures, he challenges viewers to reconsider the glorification of violence, the monetization of destruction, and the power of transformation.

Collectors of his work range from Elton John to high-profile figures in the military, entertainment, and art industries. From the battlefields of Afghanistan to the walls of world-class galleries, Bran continues to reshape the narrative of the AK-47—proving that even the most destructive tools can be reimagined as symbols of peace, beauty, and change.

📍 www.ArtToDisarm.com
📍 www.ArtistBran.com

A World Record in Weapon Art

On June 6th, 2025

British Artist Bran Symondson Makes History with £1,000,000 Weapon Artwork Sale

London, UK — June 6, 2025

British contemporary artist and former Special Forces soldier Bran Symondson has made international art history with the sale of his one-of-a-kind KS1 weapon sculpture, which achieved an extraordinary £1,000,000 at auction in support of UK military charities.

The record-breaking sale now stands as the most expensive weapon-based artwork ever sold, redefining the boundaries of contemporary art and cementing Bran’s position as a leading pioneer in the emerging genre of weapon art.

A Sculpture Forged from Conflict and Transformation

The KS1 piece is crafted from a decommissioned weapon system, transformed into a profound artistic statement that challenges perceptions of war, value, and human consequence.

Drawing directly from Bran’s own military experience, the sculpture incorporates:

Authentic currencies sourced from conflict zones and where he served, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine
Handcrafted glass bullets, each containing symbolic materials
Elements such as North African desert sand and a fragment from a WWII parachute, embedding layers of historical narrative within the work

The result is a time capsule of conflict and humanity, where instruments of war are reimagined as objects of reflection, beauty, and meaning.

Art with Purpose: £1,000,000 Donated to Veterans

In a powerful full-circle moment, 100% of the proceeds from the sale have been donated to UK military charities supporting veterans and their families.

This philanthropic outcome reflects Bran’s lifelong commitment to the armed forces community, having personally raised over £2 million for veterans’ causes worldwide through his art and initiatives.

A Defining Moment for Weapon Art

The £1,000,000 sale is not just a personal milestone—it represents a turning point for weapon-based art as a collectible category.

Once considered controversial or niche, Bran’s work has elevated the medium into the realm of serious investment-grade contemporary art, attracting global collectors, institutions, and cultural attention.