NYAB Event - Brandon Friend Exhibition

Brandon Friend Exhibition

Jeffrey Leder Gallery

This event has ended.

In his artworks, Brandon Friend provocatively deconstructs and rearranges pictorial information extracted from the media to communicate his perspective on current topics.

His works are assembled from printed material and comprise translucent schemes of figures and landscapes. Internet found imagery, newspaper illustrations or tv stills are organized and composed in grids, giving rise to patterns that regenerate the subject matter. As Brandon expresses: "Collage and the transferring of photographic elements obscure the surface along with veils of paint, producing ambiguous, visually rich subject matter." Although his visually evocative artworks appear flat, the imprinted pieces prompt a grainy, textured surface.

Digital media serves as his main resource. In that way, he fuses today's immediacy of generating visual data with the technique he defines as "imprinting". This is a unique process that he has developed for over 10 years as an approach to painting, fundamentally layer based mark making that employs various methodologies rooted in painting, print-making, collage, and image transfer. He slows down the procedure by adhering one piece of paper after the other. His work and its interpretation gradually evolves, constantly questioning its parts. Brandon invites the viewer to connect with the subject matter: "The emergence of recognizable images or gestures is intended to provoke a sense of familiarity that echoes throughout the paintings."

Yet, his paintings are characterized by an ephemeral nature. He uses similar tonal values, that merge background and subjects. Also, he increases the process of decomposition by soaking the paper: "Growth and decay have greatly influenced my role as creator, observer and intermediary".

In 2008 Brandon graduated from CUNY Queens College with a MFA and has shown his work in solo shows throughout the country since 2001. Recent exhibitions include "Identity Crisis" at Lambert Fine Arts, New York, as well as a 2 person exhibition at Spattered Columns, New York, and Exit Art and Flux Factory Annual Benefit Auction, New York. His work was recently featured in Fountain Art Fair New York and Fountain Art Fair Miami. His artwork was chosen for the Industry Art Show 2011 and he took part in the Long Island City Open Studios.