Brian Walker – Scary Monsters and Super Creeps

This exhibition round includes works provided by Brian Walker which will be on view in the First Floor Ramp Gallery from February 8 – April 26, 2025.  Lowe Mill A&E invites patrons and art lovers to join us for Open Studio Night, a building-wide experience when our over 150 studios will be open to the public.  The evening also includes receptions for all seven of our gallery spaces. This series gives the public a chance to meet and interact with visiting artists and discuss their work as it is on display and available for purchase. Come out, enjoy a pleasant evening, and maybe you’ll find that special piece of art that speaks to you!  The Open Studio Night reception is Saturday, April 26 from 5-7 pm.

 

About the exhibit;

All the hanging pieces are relief block prints, carved and then printed on a physical printing press. Much care goes into planning out the textures and shading before I commit to carving my design into a linoleum block. The blank space around each single mark, shape and shadow is carved by hand, one at a time. Then I apply ink to the block and run it through a printing press to make the images you see here. Each piece is a scene from an epic story, using the language of pop culture with composition, lighting and framing that highlight the most compelling parts of a narrative. The viewer will have to tell themselves how the characters got here, what happens next, and why. Whatever story they build for themselves is far more important and personal than my intention when creating the piece. 

The sculptures are made from recycled toys and electronics. All the parts are separated, sanded down, and attached in new combinations to make these new characters. Every detail, each new element added builds their personality and attitude. I then add a layer of paint to set the tone and make them seem like a cohesive individual. Yes, I am the bad kid from Toy Story.

About the artist;

Brian has been carving pictures of monsters and creeps into blocks and printing them since 2007. He has been living in Huntsville, Alabama for half his life. Brian appears at local artist markets and fan conventions around the southeast, and his artwork has a permanent home at braintwist.net. He is supported by his lovely wife who puts up with all of his nonsense, three wonderful kids, a dog, and two cats who will never stop sitting on his blocks while carving.