AUC college bred visual artist, Hebru Brantley, is truly a divine force to be reckoned with on this heART of Cool (HoC) Art Tuesday! Enveloping the “Art Is life” and “Life Is Art” mantra that here, at heART of Cool, we most certainly champion, Brantley has a candid ability to intellectualize, animate and deconstruct the skyskrapers of cultural boundaries through his art in a revolutionary, yet accessible way.
An intentional creative visionary and activist that allows his spray paint can to be his microphone, this multifaceted art griot creates mixed-media illustrations that address heavy social issues in digestible ways. Yes, Brantley is truly a giant when it comes to the Art and life. And he uses the authentic peaks and valley’s of his 1980’s Chicago upbringing to share the narratives that he and his peers have collected on their respective life journies to inspire other human beings.
The aesthetic and energetic pulse of Brantley’s work is said to embody, “pop infused contemporary Art inspired by Japanese anime and the bold aesthetics of street art pioneers; Jean Michel Basquiat, Kaws and Keith Haring.” And the mediums Brantley embraces are as common as oil, watercolor and acrylic and as rare as coffee and tea. And with a goal of spreading Art and truth to empower the youth, elevating their level of expectation and optimism, ironically, it is his flirtation with the fantastical make believe world that engages the nation’s youth.
MORE ABOUT MR. HEBRU BRENTLEY
Recognized nationally for public works and solo shows in Chicago, Hebru Brantley has exhibited in London, Switzerland, San Francisco, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York including Art Basel Switzerland, Art Basel Miami, Scope NYC and Frieze London. Brantley has been recognized in publications including the Chicago Tribune, Complex Magazine and NY Post. His work has been collected by many notable collectors. Brantley has collaborated with brands like Nike, Hublot and Adidas. Brantley earned a B.A. in film from Clark Atlanta University, and has a background in design and media illustration.
💜Love & Light🌞,
CRISTEN M. MILLS
