We had the good fortune of connecting with Briar Rosa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Briar, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Art has always been a great joy for me and I was very fortunate to have grown up in a nurturing environment. My interest in art has always been a continual pursuit and I’m blessed that it has had such a natural progression in my life. I’m very thankful to have such an identity.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I work with a variety of mediums to make paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints. My work has developed into an exploration of the figure and its historical relationship to symbolism. This relationship is used with a balance of aesthetics, historical juxtapositions, and representational symbolism. These themes are an investigation of my nostalgia and youth, specifically from the context of the 1980’s and early 1990’s, which were formative years for me. This contemporary interpretation of my personal history is both an attempt to show authenticity within the medium, and one of personal identity.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I really love going to live shows. As things progressively get better and things safely open, Id love to take my friends to a show at the Palladium and the Greek Theater. I think those are such beautiful and iconic spots and think everyone should experience them. We certainly would be attending the food carts outside after the show, as It’s always an authentic experience. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I recently finished grad school for my MFA in Studio Art at CSUSB. It was certainly an engaging experience, and I think there are many exceptional challenges that occur. I certainly couldn’t have survived if it wasn’t for my colleagues there, My family’s unconditional support has also been something i have been blessed to have. Both have made the experience rewarding and survivable. My time in the program has certainly had an impact on my career as an artist.

Website: www.briarrosa.com

Instagram: briarrosa_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Briar.Rosa.Art

Image Credits
deformative and Ryan Garcia

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