Kelsey Brookes | Bigger, Brighter, Bolder: Quint Contemporary Art: 7739 Drury Lane

Quint Contemporary Art is pleased to exhibit new paintings by San Diego based artist Kelsey Brookes. The exhibition, BIGGER, BRIGHTER, BOLDER will be on view from November 20th through December 19th, 2009. This will be the artists first solo exhibition with Quint Contemporary Art. An opening reception will be held on Friday, November 20th from 6 to 8 PM and will include musical performances by The Dabbers and Lion Cut.

San Diego based artist, Kelsey Brookes, presents a fresh body of work that displays a strong and unique interplay with figure, abstract forms and text. Brookes’ new work increases the sense of awe and wonder found in his signature style by demonstrating a “loosening” of the figure – where once the female forms had sharply defined contours and rendered details, they are now symbolic canvases for his seemingly limitless constellation of brightly colored micro scenes and characters. The work presents a captivating aura – from afar the small characters, shapes and patterns read as a more or less abstract swirl of color. Up close, the characters engage in all sorts of activity rewarding the careful viewer with a clear sense of joy.

The works in this exhibition represent personal meditations on spirituality and humanity. In the artist’s own words, his ‘work draws influence from Hindu and Buddhist deities, exotic animals and sex, as well as rustic American quilts.’ This plethora of reference points is usually executed with a central figure surrounded with an aura of objects, animals and plants. The work in this exhibition also showcases the artist’s fascination with literary works and words, which are incorporated in a very beautifully poetic and painterly approach. Brookes also draws reference from the British painter Francis Bacon with painterly splashes of color leaving raw bold marks on the canvas.

Brookes has been featured in numerous pop culture and design publications such as GQ, Modern Painters, Paper, Juxtapoz, Beautiful Decay, Dazed and Confused, RE:UP, and HUCK. The artist has also teamed up for illustration work with the likes of RVCA, VANS, and Insight 51 as well as musical sensation Grand Ole Party.