Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Mashburn.
Brian, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was born in Charlotte in 1980 to a mixed-race household. My mother is Chinese; she immigrated from Hong Kong in the late ’60s. My father is from Troy, NC. It’s hard to think of two more disparate places – Hong Kong and Troy. Growing up in a culturally diverse home had a strong influence on my worldview and subsequently my work as an artist.
I studied painting and drawing at UNC-Chapel Hill and received a BFA in 2002, got married last year, my wife and I currently live in Asheville, NC.
I’ve found that it’s entirely possible to live and create in a small town while showing work in larger markets. The internet and social media have made the art world much smaller and more accessible in recent years. I like the pace and cost of living associated with a town like Asheville, as opposed to NYC or LA, but I also like to travel, so it works out.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do? Why? And what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am primarily an oil painter although I occasionally work in other mediums. Generally speaking, I paint foggy, dense, layered landscapes that often feature wildlife. I also have interests in history and philosophy.
I do my best to make work that is a genuine reflection of my own thoughts and opinions about the world around me. This isn’t in an effort to preach or be prescriptive but rather a part of my process, a way to stay engaged and excited about my work. Often times whatever inspires a painting will be all but obscured in the finished product which is fine with me.
What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist?
I am always appreciative of viewers who invest time and thought of looking at a picture. These days more than ever it’s hard to slow down and think critically about painting, it’s almost a vulnerable act. Getting back to your earlier question, it kind of doesn’t matter to me what people take away from a painting – if a good faith effort is put forth and there’s an openness to whatever ideas or emotions the painting may elicit then I consider it successful.
I think it’s helpful to view success in the art world as an ephemeral thing – subjective, it comes and goes.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I mostly show my work with galleries, which is to say not a lot of private commissions, murals, etc.… This year I have solo or featured shows in New York, Portland, and Melbourne Australia.
My Instagram feed (@brianmashburn) is probably the best way to see what I’m up to.
Contact Info:
- Website: brianmashburnart.com
- Email: brianmashburnart@gmail.com
- Instagram: @brianmashburn
- Facebook: facebook.com/brianmashburnart
Image Credit:
Brian Mashburn, Steve Mann
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