Born in Santa Barbara, California, Brendan studied at Art Center in Pasadena. A sculptor and painter, his work consists of explorations of his ideas and dreams, translated into images of a familiar but unseen world. It's this dual quality and the tension between the reality and surreality that gives them their power and allure.
Created by Jon Brown for KQED's Art School, watch Brendan at work in the Heath Clay Studio for Morphology (2015).
In addition to the Boiler Room, Brendan's work is represented by Richard Heller Gallery in Santa Monica, at Galerie L.J. in Paris, and his work has been exhibited in Asia, Europe and North America. In addition, his work has been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and New American Paintings. Brendan lives and works in Los Angeles with his wife, the artist Evah Fan, and their two cats, Jalapeno and Zazie.
The Boiler Room at Heath Ceramics is pleased to present the work of Oakland, CA-based rising artist Brendan Monroe in Morphology, his largest solo show and his first major exhibition in San Francisco. The show was on view from September 25 to October 25, 2015.
Brendan is a sculptor, painter, and muralist who’s known for work that’s playfully conceptual—investigating dreamlike, intimate, and imagined worlds that evoke the tension between reality and surreality.
Featuring a selection of entirely new work—including paintings, drawings, and sculptures—Morphology brings to life Brendan’s world at scale and with an intensity befitting a space as dramatic and atmospheric as the Boiler Room.
It looked like a risky move at first, pairing talented artist Brendan Monroe, best known for his hypnotic, science inspired illustrations and sculptures with Heath, best known for its crisp modern style. In Blobography, curated by Adam Silverman, Brendan collaborated with the LA Heath Clay Studio to create sculptures that brought his world to life. Exploring new mold making and sculpting techniques, along with experimentations with glazes, the show brought to life Brendan’s world in a brand new way. The show held at Heath Los Angeles in Fall 2014 featured the fruits of the collaboration, sculptures, illustrations and more.