Artist Bio
Skip Brea is an Interdisciplinary Artist, Educator, and Residency Director based in New York City. His research-based practice investigates the representations Black and Brown cultures through digital image archival research. His main concentrations focus on the canons of painting, literature, and mythologies.
As a visual artist, Brea conceptualizes digital graphics and painting tools to question and remodel the history being presented in front of us both physically and theoretically. He deconstructs and reconstructs what we deem as potential visual history challenging what is real versus what is artificial with synthesized versions of historical visual cues.
Brea’s compositions could be considered artificial social structures; metaphorical leaps into multiple perspectives of historical viewership. His approach involves both onscreen spaces as well as physical spaces, objects, and experiences, moving away from the screen to foster reflection regarding familiar relationships to the everyday. By transforming narratives and mediums with contemporary software Brea creates works that embody old master-type paintings.
Currently, Brea is a Professor & Studio Residency Director at the New York Arts Program through Ohio Wesleyan University. Brea is a distinguished recipient of numerous prizes and awards, his engagement with art history and technology has led to several solo exhibitions across the United States. Brea has exhibited with The Gadsden Museum of Art, Peeler Arts Center, Yonkers Arts, Working Method Contemporary Gallery, and More. His work is featured in private and public collections, including the James Baldwin Library at MacDowell. Brea has also given a variety of lectures on his practice and research, most notably, at the CMA in New York. He recently finished residencies at MacDowell, Vermont Studio Center, and was just awarded the 44th AIM Fellowship through the Bronx Museum. In the summer of 2024, he will be working with the Indeterminacy Festival at Governors Island, in New York City. He holds a BA in Literature and Studio Art from DePauw University and an MFA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Florida State University.
Artist Statement
At the heart of my creative process lies a commitment to researching and understanding the nuanced dynamics of human interaction with visual historical data, particularly from the perspective of a person of color. Exploring themes of representation across technological, linguistic, and social landscapes, my work seeks to offer alternative narratives that center marginalized communities. Drawing inspiration from personal experiences and collective histories, I employ various mediums and technologies to craft creative narratives that feel familiar and empowering to those often overlooked.
Through my art, I aim to challenge dominant narratives, reclaim spaces, and amplify voices that have long been marginalized, enriching the cultural tapestry with diverse perspectives and stories. This approach ignites creativity and unveils a realm of fresh possibilities within my artistic practice. Rather than rigidly adhering to literal truth, my focus is on capturing emotional and atmospheric essence, drawing inspiration from the environments of artists’ past.
Through adept use of modern media and diverse software, I craft narratives using tools that resonate with today's audience while reclaiming and reinterpreting historical figures and spaces. By employing digital methods of creating, I dismantle entrenched power dynamics within traditional artworks, offering new perspectives on our visual culture and history. Through a blend of digital illustration, animation, and painting techniques, I seamlessly merge historical imagery with contemporary elements, creating compositions that transcend traditional boundaries and reveal the complexities of our collective past, present, and future.
Design Statement
Drawing upon over 15 years of dedicated research in Digital Cultures, Technology, and Image Consumption, my design practice is a culmination of in-depth exploration into the intersections of art and technology. Through graphics, illustration, animation, and installations, I employ digital art as a medium to explore concepts such as Data Management, Generative Art, Artificial Intelligence, and Cyber/Crypto art, through illustrative tools and coded algorithms. My work serves as both a creative expression and an educational resource, offering insights into the complex interplay between technology and society. Furthermore, the creations act as a conduit for innovative expressions and critical discourse within the realms of technology-driven cultures, leveraging social media platforms to amplify their impact and engage with diverse audiences.
