Valerie Browne
Artist based in Chicago, Illinois
ABOUT
Valerie C. Browne is a graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in Chicago, Illinois where she received her Bachelors in Fine Arts with a focus in painting and drawing in 2017. She has long been inspired by portraiture and still life of the Baroque and Rococo periods as well as traditional layering and painting techniques used by the Old Masters. Additionally, she often uses her own digital portrait photography and life experiences to further influence her works.
She recently exhibited at Visionary Project’s show, Vivid Vibrations, and her work has been published in New Visionary Magazine. She was also selected to be part of All SHE Makes, a global online artist directory that fosters the visibility of women in the arts. Originally from the small town of Spring Grove, Illinois, she currently resides and works in Chicago.
ARTIST STATEMENT
In my paintings, I explore social isolation and contrast it with visually loud and vibrant substances. I investigate the internal tensions an introverted individual may experience while yearning to immerse oneself in “the party”, along with the vast layers of emotions and thoughts that cross one’s mind during social and sensory overload. The core of my work is derived from my own struggles of attempting to exert a colorful, outgoing, and flashy persona yet feeling oversaturated by social and emotional anxieties.
The majority of my works consist of portraiture and figurative still life, including piles of deflated foil balloons, reflective and metallic party objects, and glittery materials. Aside from my own life experiences, my work and the material processes used are inspired by portraiture of the Baroque and Rococo period, as well as 17th century Dutch still life painting. I also enjoy studying textures and materials within my practice and several of my works utilize mediums outside of paints, such as glitter and gold leaf.
Website: https://www.valeriecbrowne.com
Instagram: @valeriecbrowne