Brianna Lee

Brianna Lee is a figurative oil painter working in the realist tradition. Her work focuses on the emotional interior world of her portrait subjects, often portraying them against dramatic landscapes that act as a metaphorical narrative of their life. Her work aims to highlight the quiet inward strength and resilience of her female subjects. 

 The use of contrasted lighting and rich and emotive colors convey the sentiment of each individual. While many of her narratives are fictional, she gleans inspiration from her own life experiences and of her models, friends and family. The wide open landscapes she portrays are often inspired by the rural environment she grew up in, in the Central Valley of California.

 She studied contemporary and traditional painting techniques at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art (LAAFA) and in the private atelier of portrait artist Adrian Gottlieb. She received her BFA with honors from the prestigious Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach, CA.

Ms. Lee has taught for several independent art academies throughout California, while also running her own atelier in Orange County. She is a member of the American Women Artists Association and has been granted awards for her portraits. Ms. Lee has been featured in numerous publications and was selected as one of Poets & Artists Magazine’s 50 Most Memorable Painters of 2015 and a Finalist and Honorable Mention Award winner in the prestigious 13th International Art Renewal Center Salon Competition. She has also been granted the Dual Category Award for Portrait and Figure in the 14th Annual ARC Salon.

 She accepts international portrait commissions and exhibits her work in various group exhibitions internationally including Los Angeles, Orange County, Toronto, Cincinnati, Chicago, Barcelona and New York. She is currently represented by 33 Contemporary Gallery in Chicago, IL.  She paints full-time in her North Visalia studio and teaches online courses at www.leeartstudio.com.

* This statement has been provided directly by the artist in association to their 15^th International ARC Salon entries. This content has not been edited for typos or grammatical errors and has not been vetted for accuracy.