About Gateway Atelier

Gateway Atelier of Classical Art (GACA) provides rigorous training in classical drawing and painting through a curriculum-driven program of ongoing classes, workshops, open studio sessions, and lectures. Serving artists throughout St. Louis and the broader Metro East region since 2018, GACA offers instruction in figurative, portrait, interior, and still life art.

Founded by Ingrid Oertli and B. J. Parker, GACA was established as a place for artists to pursue excellence in drawing and painting within the classical realist tradition. From the beginning, the atelier has been committed to providing a structured, skill-based curriculum that develops strong foundational abilities while encouraging individual artistic growth.

GACA courses and workshops are open to artists of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners. Instruction takes place in a traditional atelier environment, with an emphasis on individualized guidance, direct observation, disciplined practice, and the development of a strong understanding of drawing, form, value, color, and composition.

Instructor B. J. Parker has been designated an ARC Associate Living Master by the Art Renewal Center (ARC), and GACA's curriculum is ARC accredited.

In 2025, Gateway Atelier of Classical Art became a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, expanding its educational mission and commitment to accessible, high-quality art instruction. GACA now offers a four-year certificate program designed to provide students with the sustained training and technical facility needed to pursue professional careers as working artists.

Whether beginning a serious study of classical art or continuing an established artistic practice, GACA provides a supportive environment where artists can develop their skills through dedicated study, individualized instruction, and a community centered on the pursuit of excellence.

Gateway Atelier of Classical Art is accredited by the ARC

FACULTY AND STAFF

B.J. Parker, PhD, Founder and Artistic Director

B. J. Parker, (b 1980), is a contemporary figurative painter based in Saint Louis, Missouri. Fascinated by myth and always practicing the visual language, he completed his PhD in ancient Near Eastern religion at Baylor University and trained in the visual arts with Patricia Watwood, Sadie Valeri, and at the Texas Academy of Figurative Art. In his work, B. J. amalgamates the approaches of the Renaissance and Baroque masters, ancient Near Eastern Mythology, and his lived experience of a post-postmodern context. Combining traditional practices dating back to the Renaissance with contemporary compositions, his work explores human relationships, the experience of the sublime, and forgotten stories through figurative creations in oil paint, charcoal, and graphite. BJ Parker has been designated as an ARC (Art Renewal Center) Associate Living Master.

BJ’s Website BJ's Art Renewal Page BJ’s Instagram

Brei Cameron Harris, Faculty

Brei Harris is a dedicated artist and educator with a deep passion for the human form. She earned her MFA from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in 2008, where she refined her skills in both traditional and contemporary figurative sculpture.

For over a decade, Brei served as a full-time instructor in the Foundations Department at the Academy of Art University. In her role, she designed and implemented a dynamic curriculum that emphasized the core principles of proportion, gesture, structure, value, and anatomy. Her teaching philosophy focuses on demystifying the complexity of the human figure, empowering students to build strong foundational skills, develop artistic confidence, and cultivate a consistent, disciplined practice.

Originally based in San Francisco, she made Saint Louis home during the pandemic, creating space to raise her family and continue her work.

Brei’s Instagram

Board of Directors

1.Jan Heck, President
2. B. J. Parker, Founder and Artistic Director
3. Ingrid Oertli, Founder and Treasurer
4. Carolyn Karasek Needles, Secretary
5. Deborah Pontius
6. Wryn Engelmeyer