My work outlines the shadows of a personal journey comprised, in part, by my own desire to explore the synergy between the finite mind and the components of art as an expression of the intangible, yet ever present soul through the creation of haunting futuristic, pop-surrealist paintings - namely ethereal portraits of a spirit/ghost named Jane.
Using oil paint as the primary medium, I am able to manipulate the paint to give me a depth in texture and fluidity, helping me create the defining loops and swirling patterns that comprise Jane’s facial structure and clothing. Each piece is a unique visual expression of Jane’s essence. Using a culmination of practices and skill sets, namely my background in cartography and geology, I map out the “topography” of Jane’s humanity posing the question, “Are the spirits that move us all that different from who we are?”
Over the years, Jane has evolved as a work of her own - growing in form and presence, coupling a utopian spiritual oasis with the haunts of the existential valley.
My work explores the emotional and psychological connection between music and spirituality with each piece serving as a visual representation of the ghost that haunts me, Jane, and the way she reacts to certain types of music. These ethereal portraits are meant to transport you to another dimension that walks the line between uncanny valley and a spiritual oasis.
“To me, each portrait of Jane is like a secret message that needs decoding... and that job, I impress upon her audience.”
Bio
Brea’n Thompson was born in Houston, Texas in 1989. While working on her B.A. in Earth and Environmental Science/Geology from University of Las Vegas Nevada, she became inspired to pursue a career in the arts using her experience in Geology to influence her work. As a synesthete, she utilizes her unique ability to see colors in the sounds she hears. Many of her paintings incorporate vibrant colors and lively textures to depict the movement of music. Implementing the effects of textured brushwork, Brea’n seeks to convey the swirl of colors embedded deep in her mind’s eye. Layered with mystery, a playful flirtation with the occult, she uses vibrant colors and interesting textures to create portraits with intimate views into other dimensions that evoke new perceptions of melody and rhythm. Through her work, Brea’n strives to unmask what it means to human and what happens when you no longer are.