Brian Burris has been painting for
over twenty years. He is a primitive,
in the sense that he is self-taught;
painter of minimalist color fields, often
identified with Rothko. Burris
explores the intertwined themes of the
spiritual and the unconscious reflected
in the painting process progressing
according to the will of the
subconscious and through the
properties of the medium, letting the
execution and the subject become
analogous to unconscious expression,
archetypal awareness and Gnostic
meaning.
over twenty years. He is a primitive,
in the sense that he is self-taught;
painter of minimalist color fields, often
identified with Rothko. Burris
explores the intertwined themes of the
spiritual and the unconscious reflected
in the painting process progressing
according to the will of the
subconscious and through the
properties of the medium, letting the
execution and the subject become
analogous to unconscious expression,
archetypal awareness and Gnostic
meaning.
In late 2008, Mr. Burris published a collection of works, 'Codex: Fragments & Schemata', a
montage of paintings juxtaposed with artist statements and fragmented graphics meant to
invoke the semblance of gnosis. The conceit being: hidden knowledge carried beneath the
prose and images as disinhibiting stimuli, targeting the unconscious self by transcending linear
formula and allowing the message to bypass ordinary consciousness, with parallels from
Voegelin and Philip K. Dick, all held up to a mirror of depth and archetypal psychology.
Brian Burris shows a half-dozen times a year, primarily through Arts Worcester, as well as in
corporate and institutional settings. His works sell in the retail venue The Futon Company (also
in Worcester) and he has shown in various venues from Cambridge to Northampton. In
addition, he maintains a comprehensive website of works, statements, associated press, and
etcetera at www.burrisworks.com.
Mr. Burris also happens to be a lieutenant on the Worcester Fire Department.
Coincidentally, he returned from his self-imposed exile from painting world shortly after the Cold
Storage Warehouse Fire, as well as the death of his father, and the obligatory list of traumas
responded to in his professional capacity, though Judas-like, he disavows their influence though
observers project the same. Since he began showing in 2002, Burris's works have consistently
sold, with over sixty-five pieces sold to date.
montage of paintings juxtaposed with artist statements and fragmented graphics meant to
invoke the semblance of gnosis. The conceit being: hidden knowledge carried beneath the
prose and images as disinhibiting stimuli, targeting the unconscious self by transcending linear
formula and allowing the message to bypass ordinary consciousness, with parallels from
Voegelin and Philip K. Dick, all held up to a mirror of depth and archetypal psychology.
Brian Burris shows a half-dozen times a year, primarily through Arts Worcester, as well as in
corporate and institutional settings. His works sell in the retail venue The Futon Company (also
in Worcester) and he has shown in various venues from Cambridge to Northampton. In
addition, he maintains a comprehensive website of works, statements, associated press, and
etcetera at www.burrisworks.com.
Mr. Burris also happens to be a lieutenant on the Worcester Fire Department.
Coincidentally, he returned from his self-imposed exile from painting world shortly after the Cold
Storage Warehouse Fire, as well as the death of his father, and the obligatory list of traumas
responded to in his professional capacity, though Judas-like, he disavows their influence though
observers project the same. Since he began showing in 2002, Burris's works have consistently
sold, with over sixty-five pieces sold to date.
| Bio statement, Brian Burris, 2011 |