Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bree Gilliam. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Bree, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
The most meaningful, personal, and emotional project I have worked on is my senior art exhibition during my undergraduate studies at Buffalo State College in 2022. The exhibition was titled ‘Joy Comes In the Mourning”. The title was a reference to the Bible verse Psalm 30, which says, “weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.” The show featured drawings and paintings that addressed some of the issues people face while grieving, such as sadness, depression, anger, and denial. However, it also addressed the healing process with acceptance, reflection, and hope.
In 2021, my world flipped upside down. With my father’s sudden passing, I faced grief head-on more than I had ever experienced before. Yet, I knew I was not alone in this feeling of immense grief and loss. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have experienced significant losses. Whether it be the loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, or health, people everywhere have all experienced some form of loss.
The project was so meaningful because I talked with many people who could relate to my artwork. One man told me that he lost his father a week before the show and that my work helped him see that although grief is a painful, lifelong, unpredictable process, there can be healing in transforming negative emotions into creative processes. He said that I was inspiring him to find an outlet to express all of the complex emotions he was feeling. I even had a number of people tell me that my pieces moved them to tears. All of the positive feedback I received from the show helped me see that my voice can inspire healing and evoke pure emotion from my audience. I realized that my voice, my art, has power.
Bree, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am Bree Gilliam, a fine artist based in Buffalo, NY. I always loved to create art as a child. It wasn’t until my senior year in high school, about five years ago, that I took a career in the arts seriously. During my undergraduate studies a Buffalo State College, a professor in the fine arts department suggested that I change my major to fine arts painting. After changing my major, the staff at Buffalo State nourished and finetuned my artistic skills. More recently, I have completed oil painting commissions from all over the country. I also have experience in digital illustration, mural design, and jewelry design. I am also the founder of Buffalo, NY’s first paint-throwing studio, Paintphoria LLC. My personal artwork primarily focuses on social issues and experiences that people, especially people of color, face daily. I use bold colors and expressive brushwork to provoke emotion from my audience. I typically paint oil portraits of public figures, friends, and family. My goal is always to relate, inform, and spark conversation. I believe that conversations are the first step to solving problems in this world.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I think that sometimes non-artists struggle to understand that there are many paths to pursuing a career in the arts. When I was in college, many family members and friends would constantly ask, “what are you going to do with a degree in art?” or “how are you going to make a living?” I will admit that, at times, living as a fine artist is unpredictable, but there are so many creative avenues that can allow you to have multiple streams of income and the freedom to make your own schedule. For example, someone who enjoys drawing may be interested in digital illustration, anatomical illustration, product design, animation, and more. I would encourage anyone passionate about the arts to pursue a career in the arts, no matter how scary it may seem. Following your passion is definitely worth the risk.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
To me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is seeing how others can connect to the art that I create. As a painter, I paint what I see and what I experience. I paint my point of view. I love that the viewer of my paintings can see the world in my eyes for a moment in time. The viewer can see how my eyes interpret color, light, and emotion. I believe art can also convey messages that sometimes cannot be explained in words. For example, I tend to focus on the eyes in my portraiture work. Eyes often hold many emotions simultaneously, like sadness and fear or happiness and gratitude. The same can be said for other features of the face. If you think of the ‘Mona Lisa’ by Leonardo da Vinci, there is a great debate about whether she is smiling or not. It seems as if she is smiling while also having a resting, nonchalant expression. Her emotional state is difficult to verbalize but is understood by the masses. That is why I believe that sharing and viewing art is a transcendent experience. Art is like a language that is universally understood.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.breegilliam.com
- Instagram: @breegilliamart
- Facebook: Bree Gilliam Art
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/bree-gilliam
Image Credits
Yves-Richard Blanc with Blanc Photographie