Resident Barbara Brasko’s Passion for Painting Inspires at Glen Mills Senior Living
GLEN MILLS, Pa. – The walls in 92-year-old resident Barbara Brasko’s apartment at Glen Mills Senior Living are adorned by more than a dozen original paintings.
Artwork on display at a senior living community isn’t unusual. But Brasko’s room is different because she is the artist who painted these masterpieces.
Her artwork, primarily oil and acrylic pieces, captures outdoor scenes, landscapes and beach views — often inspired by photographs. One of her most cherished paintings is titled The Barn, depicting a rustic structure on her family’s property in Media, Pa. She’s especially proud of an exhibit she held at Widener University.
“Barbara’s room is a stunning gallery of her own artwork, with vibrant floral paintings that burst with life and color,” said Selena Cheng, Executive Operations Officer at Glen Mills Senior Living. “Her piece featuring a lone tree is especially captivating, rich with emotion and meaning that speaks to strength, solitude, and resilience.”
Brasko moved to Glen Mills Senior Living nearly a year ago. Her artistic talents immediately made her popular within the community.
“She is not only an amazing artist, but also a great musician,” said Brendan Buckley, Glen Mills Senior Living’s Community Relations Director. “Barbara said she started playing piano around age 7. She wanted to follow in her uncle’s footsteps because she really respected him. She started her artwork around the same time.”
Born and raised in Delaware County, Brasko grew up in the close-knit communities of Drexel Hill and Media. She graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1950 and continued her education at what now is known as West Chester University, earning a degree in Music Education in 1954. It was a natural step for someone who had begun playing the piano at such a young age, inspired by her Uncle George.
She also developed a passion for drawing and painting, gradually honing her skills as a self-taught artist.
“I had innate sense that I loved to draw and paint,” Brasko said. “I never had an art teacher and I never taught others art. It was just something that was in me and I enjoyed bringing it out. Something inside me was guiding me to draw and paint.”
After graduating college, Brasko explored various career paths before dedicating herself fully to her creative passions. Between 1966 and 1970, she stepped away from traditional work to immerse herself in painting, participating in numerous fine art shows. During this time, she also remained deeply involved in the local music scene, serving as a musical director and piano accompanist for several community theater groups, including the Colonial Playhouse, a performing arts theater in Delaware County.
In 1970, Brasko opened a home piano studio and began teaching. Over the next 20 years, she nurtured the talents of many young musicians. One of her proudest achievements is having taught a student who later became the Director of the Barnes Foundation, an art collection and educational institution in Philadelphia.
“She loved teaching students how to play the piano and still hears from some of her students today,” Buckley said.
Brasko’s musical journey was shaped by great mentors like Pearl and George Boyle, and her most treasured memory involves working with the renowned opera singer Antonio Conte Pugliese. Their paths crossed at Victor’s in South Philadelphia — a restaurant where the waiters sing opera. From that serendipitous meeting blossomed a powerful collaboration. Brasko became his accompanist, helping him rehearse for auditions and performances.
Whether through artwork or music, Brasko has shared her gift throughout her lifetime. Her art has become more than a pastime. At Glen Mill Senior Living it’s a personal museum that tells the story of a woman who has lived a life steeped in creativity.
“Barbara is such a talented and inspiring woman,” Buckley said. “Her room could be in a museum. Each piece of art has a story, and I love to hear about the background on each specific piece.”
Barbara Brasko’s life is a testament to the importance of following one’s passions. Whether through the touch of her fingers on a piano or the strokes of her brush on canvas, she has left an indelible mark.
Her legacy lives on at Glen Mills Senior Living, where the walls in her apartment tell her story while inspiring both visitors and the senior living community’s team members.
For more information, contact Brendan Buckley, Community Relations Director, Glen Mills Senior Living, at bbuckley@integracare.com or call 610.358.4900.