Kelsey Brookes
Kelsey Brookes
BIO
Kelsey is a former biochemist who attributes his raw style to an education system that refuses to teach scientists to draw. He abandoned biochemistry because 'I thought I was going to be there for a few months to get myself some money. Three years later I was left wondering if I had become what I always despised - the funny guy at the water cooler ... except not so funny. I was the confused not so funny guy at the water cooler'. Science's loss is art's gain.
The work's potency arguably lie's in the way its clash of ancient and ultra-modern references downplay the sex and death, which are featured heavily in the work. Brookes describes his art as 'an unrefined and some would say unskilled mix of sex, comedy and animals which is derived from a true passion for all three, except not necessarily at the same time.
Kelsey's figurative paintings draw influences from Hindu and Buddist deities, exotic animals and sex, as well as rustic American quilts. Each figure is adorned with ghostly representations of the natural world in which animals and plants unfold from the body into the surrounding canvas. His chimeras are frozen with animalistic intensity in explosive and sometimes tortured positions.
Kelsey's work is also embraced by the California surf scene that devours his free time. He's produced designs for several forward-thinking surf clothing labels including RVCA and Insight51.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Consciousness has 2 states of being in this world, aware and unaware. Awareness is the state you are in at the moment if you are reading this unaware is what you were before and what you will be after you are aware. These paintings represent the only exception to that rule. Creation exists beyond the scope of physical parameters and universal constants, unseen by tangibility and rationality. A place where rules are fluid and dynamic, forever changing in accordance to the unknown. My paintings are a product of this place this limbo between 2 worlds. When I close my eyes these paintings are what I see.
EDUCATION
Kelsey studied Biology and Microbiology at University. After University he studied new and emerging viruses for the US Federal Government at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2008 | 'Kelsey Brooks' - New Image Art Gallery - Santa Monica - CA
2007 | 'Super Numerary' - Bern - Switzerland
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2008 | 'See No Evil' - Riverside Art Museum - Riverside - CA
2008 | 'Smash & Grab' - Laz Inc - London - England
2008 | 'Scion Presentes Installation 4 Los Angeles' - Scion Installation LA Gallery - Los Angeles - CA
2008 | 'AJ Fosik and Kelsey Brookes' - White Walls Gallery - San Francisco - CA
2008 | 'Fairfax + Haight' - RVCA - San Francisco - CA
2008 | Aqua Miami - New Image - Art Fair
2008 | 'A Benefit Show' - Fecal Face Dot Gallery - San Fransico - CA
2008 | 'Semi-Permanent Art' - Australia
2008 | 'Poster Renaissance' - London - England
2008 | 'Welcome Home' - Fecal Face Dot Gallery - San Fransico - CA
2007-08 | 'Opening Group Show' - Lazarides Gallery - Newcastle - England
2007-08 | 'Santa's Ghetto' - West Bank - Palestinian
2007-08 | 'Replace 'Please' With Fast & 'Thank You' With God' - Lab 101 - Los Angeles - CA - Fecal Face Dot Gallery - San Fransico - CA
2007-08 | 'Brodeo' - New Image Art - Santa Monica - CA
2007-08 | 'Installation Scion Art Tour 4, NYC' - The Reed Space - New York - NY
2007-08 | '10 Curators' - Colette - Paris - France - Andenken Gallery
2006 | 'Santa's Ghetto' - Pictures On Walls - London - England
2006 | 'Giant Robot' - San Francisco - CA
2006 | 'Rattle The Chandelier' - Lab 101 - Los Angeles - CA
2006 | 'Magpie' - San Diego - CA
2006 | 'City Beat Art Show' - San Diego - CA
2006 | 'KCDC + RVCA' - Brooklyn - NY
2006 | 'The 125TH Anniversary of the Internet' - BLK/MARKT Gallery - Culver City - CA
2006 | 'TNT Inside-Out' - Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego - San Diego - CA
2006 | 'Live Art Installation and Exhibition' - RVCA - Seattle - WA
2006 | 'Stench, Seventeen Artists Kick Up A Stink' - Lazarides - London - England
2005 | 'Santa's Ghetto' - Pictures On Walls - London - England
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Guest Speaker at San Diego City College Art Department.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2008 | GQ
2008 | Outsiders
2008 | Papermag
2008 | Juxtapoz Illustrations
2008 | RE:UP Magazine
2006 | GARFUCK
2006 | FAESTHETIC, Issue 6. 160 pages.
2006 | Happy Magazine
2006 | RE:UP Magazine
Kelsey is a former biochemist who attributes his raw style to an education system that refuses to teach scientists to draw. He abandoned biochemistry because 'I thought I was going to be there for a few months to get myself some money. Three years later I was left wondering if I had become what I always despised - the funny guy at the water cooler ... except not so funny. I was the confused not so funny guy at the water cooler'. Science's loss is art's gain.
The work's potency arguably lie's in the way its clash of ancient and ultra-modern references downplay the sex and death, which are featured heavily in the work. Brookes describes his art as 'an unrefined and some would say unskilled mix of sex, comedy and animals which is derived from a true passion for all three, except not necessarily at the same time.
Kelsey's figurative paintings draw influences from Hindu and Buddist deities, exotic animals and sex, as well as rustic American quilts. Each figure is adorned with ghostly representations of the natural world in which animals and plants unfold from the body into the surrounding canvas. His chimeras are frozen with animalistic intensity in explosive and sometimes tortured positions.
Kelsey's work is also embraced by the California surf scene that devours his free time. He's produced designs for several forward-thinking surf clothing labels including RVCA and Insight51.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Consciousness has 2 states of being in this world, aware and unaware. Awareness is the state you are in at the moment if you are reading this unaware is what you were before and what you will be after you are aware. These paintings represent the only exception to that rule. Creation exists beyond the scope of physical parameters and universal constants, unseen by tangibility and rationality. A place where rules are fluid and dynamic, forever changing in accordance to the unknown. My paintings are a product of this place this limbo between 2 worlds. When I close my eyes these paintings are what I see.
EDUCATION
Kelsey studied Biology and Microbiology at University. After University he studied new and emerging viruses for the US Federal Government at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2008 | 'Kelsey Brooks' - New Image Art Gallery - Santa Monica - CA
2007 | 'Super Numerary' - Bern - Switzerland
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2008 | 'See No Evil' - Riverside Art Museum - Riverside - CA
2008 | 'Smash & Grab' - Laz Inc - London - England
2008 | 'Scion Presentes Installation 4 Los Angeles' - Scion Installation LA Gallery - Los Angeles - CA
2008 | 'AJ Fosik and Kelsey Brookes' - White Walls Gallery - San Francisco - CA
2008 | 'Fairfax + Haight' - RVCA - San Francisco - CA
2008 | Aqua Miami - New Image - Art Fair
2008 | 'A Benefit Show' - Fecal Face Dot Gallery - San Fransico - CA
2008 | 'Semi-Permanent Art' - Australia
2008 | 'Poster Renaissance' - London - England
2008 | 'Welcome Home' - Fecal Face Dot Gallery - San Fransico - CA
2007-08 | 'Opening Group Show' - Lazarides Gallery - Newcastle - England
2007-08 | 'Santa's Ghetto' - West Bank - Palestinian
2007-08 | 'Replace 'Please' With Fast & 'Thank You' With God' - Lab 101 - Los Angeles - CA - Fecal Face Dot Gallery - San Fransico - CA
2007-08 | 'Brodeo' - New Image Art - Santa Monica - CA
2007-08 | 'Installation Scion Art Tour 4, NYC' - The Reed Space - New York - NY
2007-08 | '10 Curators' - Colette - Paris - France - Andenken Gallery
2006 | 'Santa's Ghetto' - Pictures On Walls - London - England
2006 | 'Giant Robot' - San Francisco - CA
2006 | 'Rattle The Chandelier' - Lab 101 - Los Angeles - CA
2006 | 'Magpie' - San Diego - CA
2006 | 'City Beat Art Show' - San Diego - CA
2006 | 'KCDC + RVCA' - Brooklyn - NY
2006 | 'The 125TH Anniversary of the Internet' - BLK/MARKT Gallery - Culver City - CA
2006 | 'TNT Inside-Out' - Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego - San Diego - CA
2006 | 'Live Art Installation and Exhibition' - RVCA - Seattle - WA
2006 | 'Stench, Seventeen Artists Kick Up A Stink' - Lazarides - London - England
2005 | 'Santa's Ghetto' - Pictures On Walls - London - England
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Guest Speaker at San Diego City College Art Department.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2008 | GQ
2008 | Outsiders
2008 | Papermag
2008 | Juxtapoz Illustrations
2008 | RE:UP Magazine
2006 | GARFUCK
2006 | FAESTHETIC, Issue 6. 160 pages.
2006 | Happy Magazine
2006 | RE:UP Magazine
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