Richard Bruland was born in Lima, Peru and grew up in Geneva, Switzerland. He studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and is a graduate (BFA) of California Institute of the Arts in Valencia. He has exhibited extensively throughout the U.S. 

From 1982 -1990 he was owner/operator of Bebop Records & Fine Art, a combination retail record store, art gallery, and performance place. The gallery regularly hosted shows by artists, musicians, and poets, becoming known as one of the finest small venues in the L.A. area. 

 Bruland works out of his studio in his Silver Lake home, and lectures and speaks about art in southern California. He teaches painting at Whizen Center for Continuing Education at American Jewish University, Los Angeles. He is married to artist Dori Atlantis.