BRIAN MARTIN BROOKS

Academic and Vocational Background:
 2005 - Present - Drawing, painting, photography, music writing, producing, arranging and recording
 2005 - Wimbledon School of Art, London – MA (Hons.) Painting
 2005 - Fine Art Teaching Certificate (CLTAD), London, England
 1995 - 2001 - Tutor/Consultant/Course Designer for Business English (Brazil)
 1981 – 1983 – Graphic Designer, Kodak Ltd. (Merchandise)
 1974 - 1995 - Global music tours
 1969 - 1974 - Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York - BFA (Painting) - 
Studied painting, drawing & photography.
Worked with Rupert Jasen Smith and Andy Warhol at The Factory.
Photographer for Merce Cunningham Dance Ensemble.
 1968 - 1969 - Irondequoit High School, Rochester, New York
 1961 - 1968 - Hemel Hempstead Grammar School -
Studied painting, drawing, theatre design, silkscreen and other printing techniques with artist Douglas Cox.
Played oboe in Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra.
1950 – Born in Wembley, England 

Artist statement:

There are three identifiable strands to my artistic practice:

The first consists of colour studies, usually expressed as works on paper to be followed up as works on canvas or linen. These works tend to begin as theories, with a certain amount of calculation, experimentation and trial-and-error.

The second strand addresses possibilities of fragmentation and the simplifying of images into their underlying colours and structures. There is often an inherent playfulness to these works, although they address questions of tone, hue, value, relativity, luminosity, advancement and recession in pigments.

The third area is the culmination of the previous two, using the building blocks of the colour studies, along with the simplified images, to create paintings with an intensity of approach and in-depth study of the inherent structures, layering, memory and characteristics of an image.

Critical review:

"Brian Brooks has been exhibiting internationally since the 1970's with work held in private and public collections throughout Europe, the USA and Latin America. Brian has a natural talent for translating the visual world onto a two-dimensional picture plane. Utilising digital technology and computer software, his paintings use photography as a point of reference rather than a tool for direct imitation. His integral understanding of colour and perspective equals his command for pattern and repetition with an elegant and refined painting technique."

Basia Deptuch
Visual Arts Manager, Curator and Exhibition Organiser
PA to Director of Tate Modern Gallery

Selected Exhibitions:

2015 – Westphal Gallery, Berlin
             Karlsruhe Art Fair, Germany
            The Hay Hill Gallery, London (Group Show)
2014 – Copenhagen Art Fair, Denmark
            The Hay Hill Gallery, London (Group Show)
            The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, London (Group Show)
            LondonArt, East Dulwich, London (Group Show)
2013 - LondonArt, East Dulwich, London (Group Show)
2012 -  LondonArt, Dulwich Village, London (Group Show)
2009 - The Vault Art Gallery, Ireland (Group Show)
2008 – Reality Bites – Group Show – Arkhangel Gallery, Ireland
             Cork Art Fair
             Toronto Art Fair
            Chelsea Art Fair
            Dublin Art Fair
2007 – Edinburgh Art Fair
            Art Ireland, Dublin
            Manchester Art Fair
            Puro Arte, Vigo, Spain
            Chester Art Fair
            Toronto Art Fair, Canada
            Galway Art Fair, Galway, Ireland
            Buxton, Derbyshire
            FIAC, Paris
 2006 – Singapore Art Fair, Singapore
            Art London, Royal Hospital, Chelsea
            Cork, Ireland, Art Fair
            Harrogate, Yorkshire
            Montreal, Canada
            Cambridgeshire Art Fair, Linton, Cambridge
            Chelsea Art Fair, London
            Art Ireland, Spring Show, Dublin
            Hatfield House, Hertfordshire
            Tatton Park, Cheshire
2005 – MAFine Art Degree Show – Wimbledon School of Art, London
            MA Fine Art Interim Show – (Bridget Riley Studios, London)
            Deutsche Bank, London
2000 – Zohar International, Rio de Janeiro
1999 – Volkswagen Golf, advertising campaign
1998 – International Airport Gallery, Sao Paulo
1997 – International Airport Gallery, Rio de Janeiro
1996 – Stock Exchange, Rio de Janeiro
1995 – Stock Exchange, Sao Paulo
1994 – Galleria das Pedras, Buzios
1993 – Design Centre, Rio de Janeiro
1992 – Cafe Gallery, Rio de Janeiro
1991 – Bookmakers Gallery, Rio de Janeiro
1990 – British Airways – Three Commissioned Landscapes
1986 – Paris (Hotel de Ville), France
1985 – Paris (Gallerie Turgot), France
1984 – Gallerie Sarlat, Perigord, France
1983 – Camden Arts Centre, London
1982 – Stable Gallery, London
1979 – UCAL (San Diego)
1978 – New York -SoHo Art, Spring Street
1977 – New Haven, Connecticut (Creative Arts Workshop)
1976 – Buffalo, New York – Albright-Knox (Annexe)
1975 – Rochester, New York (Pyramid)
1974 – Pratt Institute Degree Show, Brooklyn, New York

Selected Public Collections:
           British Airways
           Electricité de France (EDF)
           Zohar International Communications
           BASE Brazil

Artist Brian Martin Brooks interviewed by Clare Brooks

E-mail: info@hayhillgallery.com