Art Exhibit: Chris Brown, "Awakening"

Throughout February, stop into Maze Branch to see paintings by Chris Brown in his first-ever exhibition, Awakening. Read more about the artist and his work »

Artist statement

Photography was the first visual art medium to capture my attention, so much so that I once considered it for a career. Instead, it served as a hobby on and off over the years. But in the depths of the pandemic, a very special friend put a paintbrush in my hand for the first time—and it was life-changing. In an age of uncertainty and isolation, painting provided—and still provides—much-needed doses of immersion, escape, and joy. My newfound passion for painting is also proof that it's never too late in life to take on new endeavors, creative or otherwise.

In the two short years I've been putting paint to canvas (or wood panels, or cardboard, or reclaimed cupboard doors, etc.), I've gone from small-scale acrylics to larger oils. Using multiple layers, free-form gestures, and geometric shapes, my works are designed to engage the viewer up close and from afar, and evoke interpretation on an individual level.