About
BIO
Brian has a BA in Painting from CSU Chico where he grew up, identifying as an artist from an early age, starting painting at 12 and selling by age 15. He also spent a year studying illustration at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. He is a visual artist based in Richmond CA where he both lives and works. He also worked in design for many years including all aspects of graphic and digital product design and has returned to a full time working artist. Brian has shown around the Bay Area including Southern Exposure, SF Art Commission and Pro Arts galleries, the Wall Gallery in Oakland and most recently he participated in group shows at Bass & Reiner and the Berkeley Art Center. Shows beyond the bay area have been at college galleries in California and Oregon as well as internationally in Russia as part of a cultural exchange and a collaboration grant with the global art group AES+F in St. Petersburg. In 2013 he was selected for the Banff Centre Artist in Residence program.
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STATEMENT
Brian's practice is rooted in a multidisciplinary approach to making within the pursuit of dialog between humans and nature. Questions around what is 'matter' and the fundamental architectures of materiality drive the investigations. This direction began in earnest with his 2019 solo installation 'Atlas'. Beginning with interventions in nature using specific found books of various topics, attaching them to trees or embedding them in environments, even burying several for a period of time, all with the futile and humorous intent of 'sharing' with nature.
Building on the exploration of core forms taken from geological and crystallography design he has been creating a series of paintings and works on paper. Brian is a life long rock collector and they always find their way into the work. His interaction with nature's artifacts has expanded to dried kelp and their bone like structures and surfaces. These fragments speak to the larger environmental concern with their essential role and fragility. Further investigations are around the mingling of man-made cables and wires with the kelp, merging two types of networks.
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Brian sees art making as alchemy, imbued with mystery and a language of its own where ultimately words fail. Many sources contribute to his attempts at making sense of deep connections combined with the formal nature of the visual world.
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CV
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EDUCATION
BA Painting, California State University Chico - 1978
Illustration Studies, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena CA - 1981-2
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SOLO EXHIBITIONS
"Atlas", Lane Community College Roger Hall Gallery, Eugene OR - 2019
The Wall Gallery, "New Work" Oakland CA - 2015
The Wall Gallery, "Removal" Oakland CA - 2014
The Wall Gallery, Oakland CA - 2012
"New Terrain", DGSF Gallery, San Francisco CA - 2011
"Studio Exhibition", 722 Studio, Richmond CA - 2010
"Bookhouse", Site specific installation, Albany CA - 2007
“10 Mysteries”, University Art Gallery, Biola, La Mirada CA - 1997
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GROUP EXHIBITIONS
"Refusés of the Bay", Metal Haus Gallery, San Francisco CA - 2023
“Pyramid Scheme”, Bass & Reiner, San Francisco CA - 2023
"Uplift, Heavy Lift", Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley CA - 2021
Art Exhibit 4, NTROPIC, San Francisco CA - 2014-15
"An Exchange with Sol LeWitt" MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA - 2011
“Three Artists: Myths and Journeys”, University Art Gallery, Chico State, Chico CA - 1999
Alumni Show, California State University, Chico, Chico CA - 1997
“Beyond the Computer”, Modesto Jr. College Gallery, Modesto CA - 1997
“Exposures 95”, Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland CA - 1995, curated by Sandra Phillips, Curator Dept. of Photography SFMOMA
“Elements”, Gallery W, Sacramento CA - 1994
“Drawing First”, Southern Exposure Gallery, San Francisco CA - 1993, curated by Ann Philbin, Director of the Drawing Center, New York
“Mythologies”, S.F. Art Commission Gallery, San Francisco CA - 1993
“Circle + Circle = Infinity”, Periscope Gallery, Oakland CA - 1991
“OverTime”, Bay Area Artists and Designers, Oakland CA - 1991
Fillmore Center Arts Intervention, San Francisco, CA - 1991
Emeryville Celebration of the Arts Exhibitions, 1997, 96, 94, 93, 92, 91, 89, guest curators
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RESIDENCIES
Banff Artist in Residence program, the Banff Centre, Banff Canada - 2013
AES+C “Trauma of the Spine” collaborative installation, Pushkin, Russia - 1995
Emeryville/Vladimir Exchange Exhibition, Vladimir, Russia - 199
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TALKS
"Atlas" gallery talk, LCC Eugene OR - 2019
Visiting Artist talk, Media Arts, LCC Eugene OR - 2019
Visiting Artist talk, "I want to see everything", Media Arts, LCC Eugene OR - 2014
Artist Interviews, The Mitch Green Show, San Francisco - 2014
AWARDS
Special Recognition by Curator Sandra Phillips, SFMOMA for “Exposures 95”
ArtsLink Grant Recipient for 1995 collaborative projects, collaboration with Moscow artists AES
Ministry of Culture International Artist Residency, Pushkin, Russia, the site of the “Trauma of the Spine” installation
Emeryville/Vladimir Cultural Exchange Project - 1991-92
Featured Artist, Pro Arts - 1991
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Drawing Lives at Southern Exposure”, Kenneth Baker, S.F. Chronicle, 12.11.93
“Creating The System”, Mythologies Exhibition reviewed by Edie Meidav, Artweek, 7.8.93