Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Disbrow.
Adam, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I had a very artistic upbringing. In college, I studied Art History and English. I did not begin my career as an expressionist painter until early 2014, when some life changes put me in a place where my art became a therapeutic tool. Very quickly, a photographer I knew expressed appreciation for the work and offered to photo-document, everything for me — he still does to this day — Thanks Dan! Another friend of mine offered to manage my work and share it. Within the year, we had gained national representation with Alexander Salazar Fine Art in San Diego.
I have taken art classes off and on throughout my life, but the work I do today is more a product of learning to express myself through a multitude of art forms, rather a traditional execution of formal techniques learned in school. I am a writer and musician as well. Since early 2014, I have painted work that I want to see in the world. Classes and instruction created a box for me as young man and not to say that those classes did not equip me with tools to express myself later, but I inevitably stopped painting for almost a decade because I did not enjoy my work. No longer painting, what I presumed other people wanted to see has been extremely liberating and has allowed me to explore and create what I feel is my strongest work. I appreciate my paintings and I love them, I think people pick up on that. It is extremely gratifying and rewarding to create without fear and have it be accepted. I can only say thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has supported and appreciated my work of the years.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My work is a commentary on history and culture. I use many layers of objective symbols, complementary and contrasting colors and heavy textures to create expressionist paintings that address topics such as relationship, spirituality, sexuality, beauty, duality, relativism, nature and dominion. Freedom, entropy, life, death and time are key concepts of my work. My hope is that people will see the work and feel something. Maybe they will think it is beautiful or maybe they will think it is not beautiful. Whatever their reaction is, I hope that for a brief moment, they will see something that they have not seen before.
Of course, aesthetics play a part too. But we live in a great post-modern era of art where the chaotic and entropic is seen and appreciated as beautiful. These things revitalize the soul with the reality that this existence is not sterile, blemish free or everlasting. Things wear out and breakdown — humanity being no exception. To be human is to be imperfect and imperfection is relative — as is perfection. My paintings are an exploration of timeless concepts. If the viewer can relate to what I have put on the canvas then I have succeeded.
How can artists connect with other artists?
Do not be afraid to reach out and connect with other artists. Put yourself out there as much as possible. Go to gallery openings in your area. Connect with your local art scene. Paint or create work out doors in your community. Put your work out there on social media and use plenty of hashtags. The world loves artists. Art heals culture. Trust other people with your work and remember that any reaction, be it positive or negative, is the sure sign of successful artwork.
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?
My work can be viewed online at www.adamdisbrow.com.
I have work available to be viewed by appointment at Alexander Salazar Fine Art, located at 225 West Market St. San Diego, CA.
I have work available at Saatchi Art Online: https://www.saatchiart.com/adamdisbrow
If you happen to be in Virginia, I am also a resident artist at a local cooperative called the Sperryville ARTist Cooperative. I have work available to be viewed at: 3 River Lane, Studio #1A, Sperryville, VA 22740.
People may support my work by expressing their appreciation for what I do or buying or commissioning a piece of original artwork. Thank you to everyone who has supported my work over the years and continues to support the arts by buying original works by artists, such as myself.
Contact Info:
- Address: 225 West Market St. San Diego, CA 92101
- Website: www.adamdisbrow.com
- Phone: 434-249-8249
- Email: artisbrave@gmail.com
- Instagram: @artisbrave
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adamdisbrowartist/
- Twitter: @artisbrave
Image Credit:
Julia Starks, Dan Purdy
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