W. Howard Brandenburg artist statement
I am a social expressionist painter, science illustrator, and biologist from New Mexico (USA). My studio currently resides in western Victoria on my wife’s family farm. Developing visualimages has been integral to my upbringing, and I have consistently used mark-making to evaluate my perceptions of the surrounding world. I draw inspiration from a life of rich experiences and a multi-disciplinary career allowing me to offer a unique voice spoken through the visual image.
The ideas behind my paintings are concept driven. They revolve around notions pertaining to environment, memory, shared stories, and human capability. I am fascinated by the qualities that make our species so successful and what that success means for the balance of nature.
My paintings address human ingenuity and creativity, but equally our lack of foresight and destructive nature, challenging preconceived notions of our collective footprint and norms.
My portfolio spans numerous ongoing series, encompassing an array of sizes and formats, from intimate studies to expansive paintings that transcend corners and ceilings. These pieces are often framed within bespoke steel supports, hinged for versatility. I repurpose worn denim and newsprint within or as canvas to provide structure for my concepts while enhancing the narrative. My paintings are layered using metaphor, motion, and space. I utilize repetition and ghost images to reverberate key concepts while creating a sense of motion on the surface of the canvas. I rely on geometric forms to create dynamism in the composition. The final image depicts details of what is and outlines of what could be. My paintings have been described as thought-provoking, multilayered, challenging, and sometimes uncomfortable.