We were lucky to catch up with Bri Cirel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Bri, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

In the summer of 2022, I completed my first mural in downtown Los Angeles during the pivotal moment when the Supreme Court overturned “Roe v Wade.” I had always aspired to work on a large scale and had created a political poster earlier in the year called “SOMEBODY.” This piece features a woman’s face merged with the phrase “I Am Somebody” and her body obscured by the words “not just some body.” Painting this 20-foot-long, 12-foot-high mural was the most challenging, intimidating, exhilarating, and fulfilling endeavor of my painting career. Not only did I successfully translate my intricate design to a massive scale, which was a profound learning curve, but the impact and timing of the mural’s message also brought a deep sense of connection with the local community and achievement. The first half of my mural, stating “I am somebody,” was painted during a time of full rights, while the second half, declaring “not just some body,” was completed after these rights were revoked.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Bri Cirel, and my career as a painter began uniquely after graduating art school with a film degree.

Before discovering a passion for oil painting, my creativity was focussed on film studies, particularly video editing. I was captivated by how two scenes spliced together could create a third, entirely new meaning, and loved how this juxtaposition could convey so much narrative and emotion in just seconds.

Post college, I worked as the resident artist for a Hollywood prop house creating art and backdrops from movies and commercials. This experience expanded my skill set and sparked my interest in painting, particularly in oil, leading to my obsession with learning photorealism.

As I honed my understanding of painting, the desire to distinguish a unique style and develop meaningful narrative led me to lean on my background in film editing. Just as editing two scenes together excited me, I found juxtaposing text with layered images was creating a third meaning, much like the film edits that I love.

Working with time based media that moves is exciting, but I realized using still visual elements that deliver all the information at once has a special advantage when conveying stories and ideas. While film uses time to unravel concepts, a painting can deliver its message in a single moment. This awareness energizes me to communicate complex concepts in my work through clean visual direction that combines the narrative depth of film with the immediate impact of painting.

From the outset of my painting career, my work has focused on challenging traditional portrayals of women in art and society. What started as a curious exploration of sexism in art history has evolved into a comprehensive examination of gender politics within the art world and everyday visual language. My efforts have been centered on deconstructing the patriarchal ideals that dominate visuals, while adding my perspective.

I make designs with immediate allure, strategically utilizing mainstream visual language from art history and advertisements to draw viewers into the familiar, then prompt deeper inquiry by intertwining the known with hidden messages. I blend text, graphic design, and photorealistic paintings of women to explore the disconnect between their portrayals and their humanity. I use text to provide commentary while also harnessing the graphic properties of the font to edit or encapsulate imagery. My technique involves masking, painting, and layering, creating an interplay between text and imagery that challenges perceptions. By requiring the viewer to pay special attention to the woman’s image amidst this intricate collage of information, I am highlighting her significance and intent, inviting thoughtful reflection on her role within the broader visual narrative.

Over the past few years, women-led social movements across the globe advocating for equality and respect have gained prominence and strength. This surge in activism inspires me to shift my focus from challenging the traditional “male gaze” -to embracing and representing the presently emerging “female gaze”, which is reflecting how women see themselves and the world.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My challenges began in 2016 when I was banned from Facebook during my first solo show in Los Angeles for displaying a flyer featuring a painting of female nipples. A similar incident occurred in 2019 with Instagram during my first New York show, where I was banned for including an image of the “Three Graces” statue in my artwork. As a female artist, these experiences of censorship, contrasting sharply with the celebration of hyper-sexualized depictions of women by male artists, left me feeling isolated and marginalized.

However, these obstacles, coupled with the challenge of restoring my visibility after being digitally erased, fueled my resolve to undertake a large-scale public mural—an ambition I had long aspired to but had felt too intimidated to attempt on my own.

The looming Supreme Court verdict on women’s reproductive rights during the summer of 2022 served as both a catalyst and a deadline. Despite the daunting task of creating a mural on a scale I’d never attempted before, I was propelled by the urgency of the moment.

After extensive research, crowd-sourcing ideas, and designing several drafts, I crafted a design that emphasized this pivotal moment for women in America, creating an image of hope, pride, and personhood.

Mastering large-scale painting techniques in real time, coordinating with new contacts in the intimidating street art scene—where I was a stranger from the gallery world—securing funding for my project, and becoming comfortable with painting in public spaces were all daunting challenges. Yet, I successfully accomplished each of these, overcoming these formidable obstacles with determination and resilience.

Ultimately, the project proved immensely rewarding, not only in prevailing over my apprehensions but in forging connections within the downtown Los Angeles street art community. The feedback from young girls and women who resonated with the message and imagery of the mural was profoundly moving. Their appreciation affirmed my efforts, and I was immensely proud of how my inaugural mural turned out, marking a significant moment in my artistic career.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

As I delve deeper into the challenges of embodying a female perspective in both society and the art world, my ambition is to bringing these discussions to prominent public spaces and major art fairs, areas traditionally dominated by male interpretations of women. Embracing my identity as a woman artist, I aim to create public art that challenges spaces which have historically marginalized and undervalued women’s perspectives. By developing a richer visual language that truly reflects the female experience, my goal is to produce empowering art that deeply resonates with women and others, fostering a sense of connection, empowerment, and personhood.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bricirel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bri.cirel/
• Facebook: –
• Linkedin: –
• Twitter: –
• Youtube: –
• Yelp: –
• Soundcloud: –
• Other: Unfortunately I’ve been banned from most social media sites because of my artwork.

Image Credits

All photos have been taken by me and are cleared for publishing