Kelsey Brookes (1978)  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 all at the same time.”

Kelsey Brookes work exhibits a strong and unique interplay with figure, abstract forms and text. Brookes’ work increases the sense of awe and wonder found in his signature style with a “loosening” of the figure – where once the female forms had sharply defined contours and rendered details, they are now symbolic canvases for his seemingly limitless constellation of brightly colored micro scenes and characters. The work presents a captivating aura – from a far the small characters, shapes and patterns read as a more or less abstract swirl of color. Up close, the smiley faces and characters engage in all sorts of activity rewarding the careful viewer with a clear sense of joy. This plethora of reference points is usually executed with a central figure surrounded with an aura of objects, animals and plants.

Brookes has been featured in numerous pop culture and design publications such as GQ, Modern Painters, Paper, Juxtapoz, Beautiful Decay, Dazed and Confused, Re:Up, and HUCK. The artist has also teamed up for illustration work with the likes of RVCA, VANS, and Insight 51 as well as musical sensation Grand Ole Party. Brookes’ work is also embraced by the California surf-scene, something that devours his free time.


SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

»Paper Works« (group show)
Circleculture Gallery, Berlin, 2011

»The Urban Artist – Hamburg« (group show)
Hamburg, 2011

»Caped Creatures« (solo show)
Circleculture Gallery, Berlin, 2010

»Total Eclipse« (group show)
New Image Art Gallery, West Hollywood, CA, USA, 2010

»Bigger, Brighter, Bolder« (solo show)
Quint Contemporary Art, La Jolla, CA, USA, 2009

»Quint: Three Decades Of Contemporary Art«
California Center fort the Arts, Escondido Museum, Escondido, CA, 2009

»Retrospective« (group show)
Laz Inc, London, 2008

»Homing In: An Exhibition Of 50 San Diego Artists« (group show)
Quint Contemporary Art, La Jalla, CA, 2008

»RVCAX Lodown« (group show)
Lodown Gallery, Berlin , 2008

»Kelsey Brookes« (solo show)
New Image Art Gallery, Santa Monica, CA, 2008

»See No Evil« (group show)
Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA, 2008

»Smash & Grab« (group show)
Laz Inc, London, 2008

»Open Day« (group show)
Pictures On Walls, London, 2008

»Scion Presentes Installation 4 – Los Angeles« (group show)
Scion Installation LA Gallery, Los Angeles, 2008

»AJ Fosik and Kesley Brookes«
White Walls Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2008

»A Benefit Show« (group show)
Fecal Face Dot Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2008

»Semi-Permanent Art« (group show)
Australia, 2008

»Poster Renaissance« (group show)
London, 2008

»Welcome Home« (group show)
Fecal Face Dot Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2008

»Opening Group Show«
Lazarides Gallery, London, 2007-2008

»Santa’s Ghetto« (group show)
West Bank, Palestinian, 2007-2008

»Super Numerary« (solo show)
Bern, Swiss, 2007

»Out Of Towners« (group show)
Feca Face Dot Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2007

»Rodeo« (group show)
New Image Art, Santa Monica, 2007

»Installation Scion Art Tour 4 – NYC« (group show)
The Reed Space, New York, 2007

»10 Curators« (group show)
Colette, Paris, 2007

»The Reture Of Sainity« (group show)
Andenken Galery, 2007

»Santha’s Ghetto« (group show)
Pictures On Walls, London, 2006

»Rattle The Chandelier« (group show)
Lab 101, Los Angeles, 2006

»City Beat Art Show« (group show)
San Diego, CA, 2006

»The 125th Avniversary Of The Internet« (group show)
BLK/MARKT Gallery, Culver City, CA, 2006

»TNT Inside-Out«
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 2006

»Live Art Installation And Exhibition« (group show)
RVCA, Seattle, 2006

»Stench, Seventeen Artists Kick Up A Stink« (group show)
Pitures On Walls, London, 2005