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John Brosio
Featuring monstrous, Godzilla-like scenarios with oversized phenomena such as crows, dinosaurs, crabs, chickens and tornadoes towering over otherwise calm suburban scenes, John Brosio’s oil paintings blend the epic and fantastical with the everyday and mundane. In other compositions, lone human brides emerge from UFOs, wolves prowl desolate streets, and human skeletons enact everyday scenes alongside fleshy but otherwise oblivious humans. The humour, absurdity and even terror in his works spotlight the ‘creepiness that can come from American suburban life’ as well providing a unique contemporary mythology of 20th century American suburban and pop-cultural consciousness.
Considering the distinctly cinematic feel to Brosio’s...
Featuring monstrous, Godzilla-like scenarios with oversized phenomena such as crows, dinosaurs, crabs, chickens and tornadoes towering over otherwise calm suburban scenes, John Brosio’s oil paintings blend the epic and fantastical with the everyday and mundane. In other compositions, lone human brides emerge from UFOs, wolves prowl desolate streets, and human skeletons enact everyday scenes alongside fleshy but otherwise oblivious humans. The humour, absurdity and even terror in his works spotlight the ‘creepiness that can come from American suburban life’ as well providing a unique contemporary mythology of 20th century American suburban and pop-cultural consciousness.
Considering the distinctly cinematic feel to Brosio’s paintings, it is hardly surprising that cinema plays a huge role in the development and iconography of his work. Growing up in Pasadena, California, he was influenced by films such as Star Wars, Godzilla, Wizard of Oz, and the stop-motion animation artist, Ray Harryhausen. Brosio developed a particular interest in movie special effects, and in fact in his junior year of college in 1990, he interned at the George Lucas Industrial Light and Magic Company in the Creature Shop.
With their looming background figures which threaten destruction and chaos, Brosio’s paintings represent the ‘elephant in the room’ or those things ‘swept under the carpet’ by our contemporary society – issues such as global warming and environmental issues, and the corrupt machinations of our economy, marked by fraud, extortion, illegitimate wealth and unfair poverty. Despite our best attempts to ignore, downplay and dismiss these ‘background’ issues, the uncomfortable truths and hidden costs of our affluent modern-day lifestyles rear their heads in bizarre and unpredictable ways – not unlike Big Foot, the Lockness Monster and UFOs – things that lurk in the night or in the deep recesses of the human collective unconscious. Brosio has often spoken about his personal dissatisfaction and frustration that have given birth to these works and muses that ‘maybe a lot of these paintings are like a terrarium, an allegory maybe of everything we all have to contend with, pro and con’.
Brosio also speaks about the strong influence of the sciences on his artistic practice – animals, natural phenomenon, the fossil record, astronomy and cosmology. He touts Carl Sagan as a major personal hero of his, and in many ways Sagan’s concept of the ‘pale blue dot’ could be a metaphor for how Brosio’s paintings showcase the ridiculous theatre of human life in comparison to the majestic, wild infinity beyond. Brosio also speaks about his interest in the scientific concept of ‘the Holographic Principle’ and the idea of the universe as a simulation or an imagined reality. In this way, his works make a lot more sense; they are often situated in that in-between zone of science and fiction, otherwise known as science fiction. It is for this reason that he loves tornadoes which he deems ‘a blend of mythology and science’ – ‘a kind of meeting point between what was considered legitimate (a real thing) and non legitimate (Godzilla) in art’. Similarly, the certain anachronisms that exist in his work, like dinosaurs, take on a whole new meaning. Perhaps in a symbolic way they are omens of what may one day be regarded of our own species – fossils and relics of the past.
With the stylistic influence of cinema then, Brosio’s paintings form a kind of artifice or constructed reality not unlike a film set. This is particularly evident in his more recent works where compositional elements such as trees and buildings appear as two-dimensional cut-outs in an otherwise three-dimensional spatial environment. They are also often accompanied by flat backgrounds with scribbled figures superimposed, almost as if drawn in crayon by a child. Brosio has a keen interest in the science of painting itself and often mentions his past teachers, particularly Wayne Thiebaud, as being hugely influential on his methods as a painter. Other painterly influences include Edward Hopper, Albert Pinkham Ryder, Giorgio di Chirico and Morandi. In Brosio’s words ‘learning to paint has to do with continually learning to see and that’s the exciting part’. In the same way that he deconstructs the elements of painting itself, he also encourages us as the viewer to deconstruct our understandings of the structures in the world around us, and envisage our way forward as a society in a new manner.
Born in Pasadena, California in 1967, Brosio graduated from the University of California at Davis in 1991 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He then studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena between 1992 and 1995.
Brosio’s work has been exhibited throughout the US, and also in Hong Kong. He has been featured in multiple print publications including, VICE Magazine, Huffington Post, American Art Collector, Flavorpill and Juxtapoz. He currently lives and works in his home town of Pasadena, California.
Please contact us if you would like to buy an original painting by John Brosio or to be notified when we have new available art for sale.
Original Art
- JB Burke - 'Caro et Flos I (Flesh and Flower)' - coloured pencil on Arches watercolour paper, mounted on birch panel
- Erika Sanada - 'Bond' - ceramic and cold finish
- Isobelle Ouzman - 'Curiosities of the Soul' - ink and coloured pencil on book
- Michael Campbell - 'Our Mother of Mystery' - urethane resin, epoxy clay and acrylic paint
- Zoe Thomas - 'Amélie Amélie, The Mystic Twin' - paper clay, epoxy clay, wire, cardboard, wood, fabric, acrylic and oil paint
- Shannon Taylor - 'The Lilac Tree' - watercolour collage in antique bubble glass frame
- Jennifer Allnutt - "Oubliette" - oils on custom wood panel arch
- Jennifer Allnutt - "Omertà" - oil on wood panel
- Jennifer Allnutt - 'La Belle' - oil on aluminium composite panel
- Jennifer Allnutt - "Every Silence" - oil on aluminium composite material
- Calvin Ma - 'Growth' - ceramic, resin & acrylic paint
- Calvin Ma - 'Sunny Days' - ceramic, resin & acrylic paint
- Calvin Ma - 'Wired' - ceramic, resin & acrylic paint
- Catriona Secker - "A Figure In The Forest" - graphite on 300gsm cotton paper
- Catriona Secker - "Forest Dwellers" - acrylic on cradled birch panel
- Kim Slate - 'Collectors' - clay, wire, gouache, acrylic, glass, epoxy & wood
- Kim Slate - 'Just Between Us' - clay, gouache, acrylic, wire, epoxy and walnut board
- Kim Slate - 'Bit of Luck' - clay, gouache, acrylic, wire, epoxy and walnut board
- Kim Slate - 'Peace Offering' - clay, gouache, acrylic, wire, epoxy and walnut board
- Kim Slate - 'Safe and Sound' - clay, gouache, acrylic, wire, epoxy and walnut board
- Stella Im Hultberg - 'Fragrant Burdens' - jagae (Korean abalone shell and mother-of-pearl) and acrylic on wood
- Stella Im Hultberg - 'Sanguine' - acrylic on wood
- Stella Im Hultberg - 'Epistrophe' - acrylic on canvas
- Stella Im Hultberg - 'Somewhere in Time' - acrylic on wood
- Stella Im Hultberg - 'Tearache' - jagae (Korean abalone shell and mother-of-pearl) acrylic and graphite on clay
- Stella Im Hultberg - "Unremembered Stories" - jagae (mother of pearl) & acrylic on clay and wood
- Th•rn - 'Dishonest Harmony' - porcelain and glaze with 24ct gold and white gold lustre
- Th•rn - 'Flower Mother' - porcelain and glaze with 24ct gold and white gold lustre
- Rovina Cai - 'Stars' - acrylic & coloured pencil on board
- Vincent Ultramarine - 'Who Left The Window Open' - gouache on watercolour paper
- Ashlea Bechaz - 'King Froggo Holding Court' - acryla gouache on wood panel
- Ashlea Bechaz - 'The Seer' - gouache on paper
- Haejin Yoo - 'Woman in the Bath XVI' - oil on linen, handmade pinewood frame
- Ruby Li - 'Tell Me Your Secrets, They’re Safe With Me' - oil on board
- Stefano Ronchi "Ronch" - 'The Golden Goose' - acrylic on canvas
- Miho Hirano - 'Liberation' - oil on canvas
- Miho Hirano - 'Spring Waltz' - oil on canvas
- Miho Hirano - 'Nostalgia' - oil on canvas
- Miho Hirano - 'With You #2' - oil on canvas
- Pickled Circus - 'Spaghetti Yeti' - epoxy clay & resin
- Pickled Circus - 'Bugs Zombunny' - epoxy clay, ceramic & resin
- Stéphanie Kilgast - "Moving Pictures (Chameleon)" - mixed media sculpture on thrifted videotape
- Stéphanie Kilgast - 'Squid’s Story' - mixed media sculpture on empty paint tube
- Stéphanie Kilgast - "Snapshot" - mixed media sculpture on thrifted camera
- Stéphanie Kilgast - 'Sylvestre' - mixed media on tin can
- Stéphanie Kilgast - "Pandora" - mixed media sculpture on thrifted jewellery dish
- Stéphanie Kilgast - "Unicorn" - mixed media sculpture on thrifted Polly Pocket toy
- Stephanie Kilgast - "Rainbow Buddha (Toddlerpillar Customisation)" - mixed Media and vinyl Toddlerpillar
- Sr. Papá Chango - 'From Fruit To Life' - acrylic on canvas
- Sr. Papá Chango - 'Fresh Eucalyptus' - acrylic on canvas
- Jon Ching - 'Refresh' - oil on wood
- Jon Ching - 'Midas' - oil on wood
- Hannakin - 'Subterranean Isopod' - wool felt, thread, glass beads, Sculpey, wire and mixed media on raw pine wood base
- Hannakin - 'The Collector' - wool felt, thread, glass beads, vintage lace trim, Sculpey, wire and mixed media on raw pine wood base
- Hannakin - 'Hermit Gastropod' - wool felt, thread, embroidery floss, Sculpey, wire and mixed media on raw pine wood base
- Hannakin - 'Radish Dicapitae' - wool felt, thread, magnet, glass beads and mixed media on raw pine wood base
- Hannakin - 'Amphibious Clover' - wool felt, thread, wire, Sculpey and mixed media on raw pine wood base
- Jana Brike - "The Wayward Traveler" - oil on canvas
- Jana Brike - 'Lady and Her Green Boy Lover' - oil on linen
- Jana Brike - 'A Lady and a Dream' - oil on linen
- Jana Brike - 'Quiescence' - oil on linen
- Jana Brike - 'Bluebeard’s Bride and Her Moon of Honey' - oil on linen
- Jana Brike - 'Siren Song in a Storm' - oil on linen
- Jana Brike - "The Wild Madonna and Her Daughter" - oil on linen
- Jana Brike - 'Honeydew' - oil on linen
- Jana Brike - 'Triad' - oil on linen
- Jana Brike - 'A Maiden Hiding From Angels' - oil on linen
- Jana Brike - 'Last Days of Summer' - oil on linen
- Emilio Garcia - 'Jumping Brain - Black, Beinart Gallery edition' - resin sculpture, edition of 2
- Emilio Garcia - 'Brain Heart - Black /Gold' - resin, edition 1/1
- Jessica Dalva - "Biblically Accurate Cherubim" - mixed media, epoxy clay, gold leaf, acrylic paint, vintage wooden base and vinyl Toddlerpillar
- Jason Limon - "Cosmic Coffin" - acrylic on panel
- Jason Limon - "Outlines" - acrylic on panel
- Jason Limon - "Stargaze" - acrylic on panel
- Jason Limon - "Infinite Glow" - acrylic on panel
- Marco Pennacchia - 'Where I Fade' - oil on canvas
- Adrianna Karwacka - 'The Hermit' - textile sculpture with wire, gouache and antique pot
- Adrianna Karwacka - 'The Family' - textile sculpture with wire, gouache and antique pot
- Ben Ryan - 'A Gut Feeling: After Goya's Saturn Devouring His Son' - oil on panel
- Georgie Seccull - 'Between Worlds' - treated stainless steel sculpture
- David Hourigan - 'Poon's Restaurant' - foam, metal, wood, plastic & plaster
- Katie Barron - 'Cherry Tree' - oil on panel
- Samara Owens - 'Mygistic Light' - felted wool and fibre, armature wire, glass beads, copper metal clay, resin, cotton thread & timber
- Meagan "Magpie" Rodgers - "Agape" - acrylic on wood
- Meagan "Magpie" Rodgers - 'Ambivalence' - graphite on paper
- Meagan "Magpie" Rodgers - "Succumb" - acrylic on board
- Meagan "Magpie" Rodgers - "Louder Than Words" - acrylic on clay
- Katie Barron - 'Sugar Mama' - oil on panel
- Alex Garant - "Gold Study 1" - oil on cradled canvas panel
- Alex Garant - "Is This a Dream Or a Mirage?" - oil on canvas
- Alex Garant - "Is this a Mirage Or a Dream?" - oil on canvas
- Kristen Egan - "Inia" - gourd, wood, paper clay, acrylics, metal leaf, brass and seashells
- Kristen Egan - "Boto" - gourd, wood, paper clay, acrylics, metal leaf, brass and seashells
- Kristen Egan - "Delphinus" - gourd, wood, paper clay, acrylics, metal leaf, brass and seashells
- Calamity Cole - 'Feeding the Cave Cat' - Charcoal, oil and iridescent decoupage on watercolor paper mounted to wooden plaque
- Nom Kinnear King - 'Vedette' - oil on panel
- Nom Kinnear King - "Lueven" - oil on wood
- Nom Kinnear King - 'The Fallow Wood' - oil on wood
- Nom Kinnear King - 'Onwards' - oil on wood
- Nom Kinnear King - 'Etched in Vines' - oil on wood
- Nom Kinnear King - 'Note Threads' - oil on wood
- Nom Kinnear King - 'By and By' - oil on wood
- Nom Kinnear King - 'Seeds Sewn' - oil on wood
- Nom Kinnear King - 'Harken' - oil on wood
- Nom Kinnear King - 'To the Flame' - oil on wood
- Nom Kinnear King - 'Fiametta' - oil on wood
- Nom Kinnear King - 'By the Shallows' - oil on wood
- Nom Kinnear King - 'Pottinger' - oil on wood
- Nom Kinnear King - 'The Heigel Woods' - oil on wood
- Nom Kinnear King - 'Theandia' - oil on wood
- Nom Kinnear King - 'The Light Warden' - oil on wood
- Paola Ciarska - 'Glitch (2097)' - gouache on board
- Scott Listfield - "Old Man Of The Mountain" - oil on canvas
- Scott Listfield - "Building 71" - oil on canvas
- Scott Listfield - "Building 30" - oil on canvas
- Scott Listfield - "Pink flock" - oil on canvas
- Scott Listfield - "Blue Moon" - oil on canvas
- Scott Listfield - "The City Has Eyes" - oil on canvas
- Scott Listfield - "Building 25" - oil on canvas
- Scott Listfield - "Ultraviolet Spectrum" - oil on canvas
- Scott Listfield - "Chemical Sky" - oil on canvas
- Scott Listfield - "Crystal Oracle" - oil on canvas
- Scott Listfield - "The Face With One Eye" - oil on canvas
- Brian M. Viveros - 'KO' - oil & acrylic on wood panel
- Brian M. Viveros - 'Dreamer' - oil & acrylic on wood panel
- Brian M. Viveros - 'Nine Lives' - oil & acrylic on wood panel
- Brian M. Viveros - 'Wild at Heart' - charcoal, pastel & graphite
- LIFO - 'Birth' - gouache on kraft board
- Dulk - 'Puffin' - pencil and acrylic paint on japanese paper
- Dulk - 'Otter' - pencil and acrylic paint on japanese paper
- Tina Yu - 'Wish Tree' - epoxy clay, acrylic paint & epoxy resin
- Jesús Aguado - "The Day of Bones" - acrylic on wood panel
- Jesús Aguado - "Eyelashes of Pain" - acrylic on panel
- Jesús Aguado - "Emancipated Ear" - acrylic on cradled panel
- Jesús Aguado - "Emancipated Smell" - acrylic on cradled panel
- Jesús Aguado - "Pig Supplies" - acrylic on birch panel
- Clémentine Bal - "Carte Postale" - aerosol, acrylic, pastel on a mixed media sculpture
- Clémentine Bal - "Chien Rose " - aerosol, acrylic, coloured pencil, pastel on mixed media sculpture
- Clémentine Bal - "Meilleure Vie" - aerosol, acrylic, pastel on a mixed media sculpture
- Clémentine Bal - "Gardienne" - aerosol, acrylic, pastel on a mixed media sculpture
- Clémentine Bal - "Emma" - aerosol, acrylic, pastel on a mixed media sculpture
- Kremena Chipilova - 'The Golden Bird' - oil on panel
- Kremena Chipilova - 'The Offering' - oil on panel
- Kremena Chipilova - 'Thorns And Honey' - oil on canvas mounted on ACM panel
- Kremena Chipilova - 'The Gift' - oil on panel
- Hine Mizushima - 'Anatomical Heart, Inhabited (Deep)' - felt, beads, sequins, yarn, wood, wire and glass dome
- Hine Mizushima - 'Anatomical Heart, Inhabited (Shallow)' - felt, beads, sequins, yarn, wood, wire and glass dome
- Agatha Black - 'Jinky Twins Artdoll' - mohair, resin, ceramic, wire, cotton, acrylic and oil paint
- Agatha Black - 'Chubby Bird' - mohair, resin, ceramic, wire, cotton, acrylic and oil paint
- Agatha Black - 'Pale Bat' - mohair, resin, ceramic, wire, cotton, acrylic and oil paint
- Josh Keyes - "Red Snow" - acrylic on birch panel
- Super A - "Warped" - acrylic on linen
- Josie Morway - "Dawn" - oil on canvas
- Josie Morway - "Dusk" - oil on canvas
- Dewi Plass - 'A World of Kindness' - acrylic on cradled birch panel
- Dewi Plass - 'All That Is Dear' - acrylic on cradled birch panel
- Dewi Plass - 'Habitat (Soul Nourishments)' - acrylic on cradled birch panel
- Dewi Plass - "Stuck (through the motions)" - acrylic on cradled birch panel
- Dewi Plass - "Transform (the magic we create)" - acrylic on cradled birch panel
- Adriana Artmeier - 'You're So Funny' - acrylic on wood
- Kathie Olivas & Brandt Peters - "Alive: 3 Tots in 1" - oil, acrylic, epoxy resin on UV resin, vinyl, and wood
- Jolene Lai - 'Birdcage' - oil on wood panel
- Jolene Lai - 'Rainbow's End' - oil on wood panel
- Dolaana Davaa - 'Black & White Demon Mask' - wood pulp, tempera and synthetic hair
- Samuel Farnham - 'Cloak' - graphite on archival paper
- Samuel Farnham - 'First Glance' - graphite on archival paper
- Samuel Farnham - 'Inner Child' - oil on panel
- Samuel Farnham - 'Spoiled Thoughts' - graphite on archival paper
- Daniel Danckert - 'Invitation' - ink on paper
- Daniel Danckert - 'The Procession' - pen and ink on paper
- Daniel Danckert - 'Woman of the Mire' - clay, resin and wood
- Gigi Chen - 'A Sparrow's Song' - acrylic on wood
- Gigi Chen - 'A Collective Glow' - acrylic on wood
- Gigi Chen - 'From Above' - acrylic on wood
- Gigi Chen - 'From Within' - acrylic on wood
- Gigi Chen - "Shimmer" - acrylic on wood
- Gigi Chen - "Let's Make This Work" - acrylic on wood panel
- Gigi Chen - 'At A Glance' - acrylic on wood
- Gigi Chen - 'Murmurations' - acrylic on wood
- Jeff Christensen - 'A Thousand Cuts' - oil on panel
- Jeff Christensen - "Calling Forth Darkly" - oil on panel
- Jeff Christensen - "Headspace" - oil on canvas
- Jeff Christensen - "Draugr" - oil on board
- Wiley Wallace - "End Together" - acrylic on panel
- Wiley Wallace - "Canyon Search" - acrylic on panel
- Wiley Wallace - "All Over" - acrylic on panel
- Wiley Wallace - "Bright Night" - acrylic on panel
- Wiley Wallace - "Prism Sunrise" - acrylic on panel
- Ginklet - 'James' - ceramic and underglaze
- Ginklet - 'Big Jimmy' - ceramic and underglaze
- Ginklet - 'Casper' - ceramic and underglaze
- Ginklet - "Burt and Lionel" - ceramic clay and underglaze
- Ginklet - "Arnold" - ceramic clay and underglaze
- Ginklet - "Tough Baby" - ceramic and underglaze
- Beau White - '2 Minutes to Midnight' - oil on board
- Beau White - "What's Inside A Tardigrade?" - epoxy clay, polymer clay, plastic toothpicks, oil paint & vinyl Toddlerpillar
- Beau White - 'Algal Bloom' - oil on board
- Beau White - "One Toe In The Grave" - oil on board
- Beau White - "Once Upon A Time" - oil on board
- Beau White - "Missing In Action" - oil on board
- Beau White - "Chance Meeting" - oil on board
- Beau White - "Big Toe" - oil on board
- Beau White - "Not A Robot" - oil on board
- Beau White - 'Lest We Spaghett' - oil on canvas
- Beau White - 'Time Does Pass' - oil on board
- Beau White - 'Clump' - oil on canvas
- Beau White - 'Pop!' - oil on board
- Briana Hertzog - "Little Green Man" - epoxy clay, primer & acrylic paint on vinyl Toddlerpillar
- Diogo Monteiro - "The Little Hugger" - resin with acrylic paint and varnish on a wooden base
- Bayard Baudoin - "The Golden Homunculus" - fiberglass Resin, acrylic and mixed media
- Hannah Chatham - "The Biter" - porcelain teeth, dental acrylic resins
- Helice Wen - "On The Nature of Daydreaming No. 4" - oil and acrylic on wood panel
- Briana Hertzog - "Pompon Dahlia No. 2" - oil on canvas
- Briana Hertzog - "A Day of Rest" - oil on canvas
- Briana Hertzog - "Camouflage No.3" - oil on canvas
- Briana Hertzog - "Camouflage No.2" - oil on canvas
- Briana Hertzog - "Herbivore" - oil on canvas
- Briana Hertzog - "Carnivorous Plant" - oil on canvas
- Briana Hertzog - "Feral Garden No. 1" - oil on canvas
- Briana Hertzog - "Pompon Dahlia No. 1" - oil on canvas
- QimmyShimmy - "Taiyaki (tuna)" - Mixed media
- QimmyShimmy - "Strawberry Parfait" - mixed media
- QimmyShimmy - "Pumpkin" - polymer clay & mixed media
- QimmyShimmy - "Melon" - polymer clay & mixed media
- QimmyShimmy - "Apricots" - polymer clay & mixed media
- Adrian Cogiel - "Toddlerspore" - Epoxy putty, acrylic paint & vinyl Toddlerpillar
- Lix North - "Gilt" - oil on aluminium
- Marco Mazzoni - "Happy" - colored pencils on paper
- Natalia Fabia - "Indulge Me" - oil on panel
- Nicole Evans - "Equilibrium" - oil on cradled birch panel
- Nicole Evans - 'The Lost and Found' - oil on panel
- Brad Gray - 'Leda and the Slug' - oil on panel
- Brad Gray - 'Roving Lemonati' - oil on panel
- Brad Gray - '10,000 Leaves' - oil on panel
- Annita Maslov - 'Ekhidna' - oil on panel
- Annita Maslov - 'Arke' - oil on panel
- Annita Maslov - 'Fauna' - oil on panel
- Annita Maslov - 'Hu Li Jing' - oil on panel
- Justin Boehme - 'Dangerous Mother' - sterling silver and bronze
- Brian Mashburn - 'African Elephant' - oil on basswood
- Brian Mashburn - 'Asian Elephant' - oil on basswood
- Brian Mashburn - 'Tamarin' - oil on basswood
- Brian Mashburn - 'Green Budgie' - oil on basswood
- Brian Mashburn - 'Blue Budgie' - oil on basswood
- Brian Mashburn - 'Ficus with Cat' - oil on panel
- Brian Mashburn - 'Monkey Tree' - oil on canvas
- Brian Mashburn - 'Canis Lupus' - oil on panel
- Brian Mashburn - "Somniferum" - oil on panel
- Zarina Situmorang - "Choice #2" - oil on canvas
- Zarina Situmorang - 'It Takes Two' - oil on canvas