By Debbie Hall
Photos courtesy of Brian Gibson
The art scene bursts with color, musical influence, and the inner workings of the mind and creativity of Brian C. Gibson. His Boytoy Summer art residency can be experienced at the Inside Style space in the Arts District through Nov. 30.
His exhibition features abstract paintings; a sound sculpture created collaborating with musician William Boscoe Davenport and Scanner Lightly zine with his original sketching.
Living Style has opened an ample space to encompass the artist's bigger-than-life personality and panache. However, Brian appreciates open space and does not feel the need to fill the walls or floor with his work. In fact, a funky, comfortable, red couch beckons people to sit and absorb the creativity surrounding them.
In his 30s, Brian grew up in Pahrump, Nevada, before moving to the "big" city of Las Vegas. He expressed his creativity through playing music, and after meeting artist Alex Huerta (who passed in 2020), who designed his band's artwork, Brian developed a friendship with Alex.
"He was such a great man, and I loved his enthusiasm," says Brian. "I played music at the Arts Factory and hung out with him. Eventually, the last bit of my music when I was in my 20s was recording downtown spaces. I met T.G. Miller from Black Camaro there and told him that he was a singer and guitarist, not a singer. He showed me more sarcasm in art than music and that was really fun for me."
Brian brings his musical background to his art, not finite shapes, but seeing musical notes dance in impressionist pieces. One can almost feel the flow of rate and pitches with the improvisation of jazz. Another of Brian's works embodied a piano with benches dancing, much like the different people that will play the same piano but create different sounds. Of course, his artwork is abstract, so it is all about interpretation, and others might envision other items or feelings.
"[Russian artist Wassily Wassilyevich] Kandinsky was about tying in music and visual art and would say that true inner beauty will look like ugliness at first because it is inner and not outer. So several of my works are titled with the name Kandinsky such as Can't Dinsky because they are based on Kandinsky's work, and I am so influenced by him," explains Brian.
"Noticing Brian's paintings' lyrical, whimsical, musical nature and relating it to jazz and the piano makes perfect sense given his background. One small detail in one of his paintings grabbed my attention, and I am enamored of all the rich detail here," says Poly Schmitt, a collector of Brian's work.
"The fun of abstract art is that it is so open-ended. I want the viewer to surrender the urge to command the meaning from a piece of abstract art," says Brian. His goal is to start conversations, not arguments. "I will never tell you that you are wrong, especially what you see in my art."
Brian creates in different mediums, including oils, resin, acrylic, and other elements. As Brian explains, artists' residencies are very important to the creative since it inspires and pushes the artist to expand and develop new pieces and styles. Brian was also proactive, asked for the space at Inside Style, thanking the owners profusely, and has since added to the creative economy. During his residency, Brian also offers copies of An.galla by J. Sin Martin, displaying the cover he created. The book's subtitle is "The Story of the End of Intelligent Life on Mars and the Discovery of Earth," The author is a deep thinker offering a different twist. Brian is ready to present, paint, discuss his work, and sell.
Boytoy Summer will be at the Inside Style as part of its new monthly Artist-In-Residency program, located at 1119 S. Main Street, continuing through Nov. 30. For more info, follow Brian on Instagram @ null_void_art and visit Inside Style at insidestylehome.com.