This May, HEDGE Gallery opens Wide Eyed, a rousing array of new figurative paintings by Justin Brennan. Brennan continues his exploration of the human form; dissecting faces, studying the body and portraying the interiors we live in.

He paints with thick, direct brushwork and a diversified palette consisting of vivid fluorescents and traditional colors, combining oils, latex, enamels and spray paint. Brennan, being a mainly self taught artist, states, “My work may be unsophisticated, but it comes from a place of wonderment and is a pure expression of my innermost thoughts.” Brennan helps manage his family catering business, and most days are spent busy in a prep kitchen environment. The hustle bustle of his day job leads to active evenings in his studio where paint and other material are wielded across canvas, creating powerful gestures of figures in motion.

Brennan states, “Some of the variables that directly affect my artwork during this process are glimpses of clarity, moments of struggle, and the discovery of material. At times, the result of this process includes the destruction of the painting - followed either by its death or rebirth.”

In a time where self reflection has become a normal daily practice, Justin Brennan’s paintings are a refreshing take on the human psyche, and offer intuitive insight on how we view ourselves and our peers in a fast-paced world.