Meet Krysta Brown | Mixed Media Artist & Marketing Strategist

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

Hi Krysta, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always been drawn to psychology. Why we think the way we do; what motivates our decisions; how we perceive the world. And I’ve always wanted to create things that inspire others to ask those questions too. I want to spark curiosity.

And so the goal of my art is to spark that curiosity, to challenge our ways of thinking, and to encourage limitless imagination. Through my abstract paintings, I explore the concept of skewed realities, challenging the physical constructs we’re used to and offering new perspectives. I use a mix of mediums like acrylic, watercolor, and embroidery on canvas to create depth and captivate the viewer.

This motivation to inspire new ways of thinking is also reflected in the career I’ve built in the advertising industry. After receiving my BA in Psychology from Cornell and a Master’s in Entertainment Industry Management from Carnegie Mellon, I pursued a career in marketing as a creative and brand strategist. To this day, I get to explore strategic ways to spark curiosity through creative campaigns for films, brands, or social causes. I get to inspire people, to change their minds, and to get them to believe in something.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
There are many factors in my personal and professional life that have inspired and shaped my creativity. My background in psychology and in exploring the human mind is reflected in my artwork in several ways, whether it’s depicting a new way of perceiving the world, capturing a skewed reality, or infusing subtle emotion into portraits. I’ve also been extremely inspired by my travels. Every year, my mom and I go on a trip together. In 2019, we chose Barcelona. Barcelona exposed me to the undeniably captivating and whimsical architecture of Antoni Gaudi. I love the ways he has defied traditional structure and has created spaces that truly transport visitors into his own take on reality. Gaudi’s architecture has inspired so much of my abstract style. I am a huge fan of using bright, bold colors and distinct shapes to tell a story.

But despite my constant desire to create and to transport people the way Gaudi does, I’ve faced the challenge of balance. That is, finding the balance between my day job and my creativity. I’ve had to shift my mindset to believe that my art also deserves time and energy during the work week. And now, I know how important it is to believe in myself if I want anyone else to believe in me too. It’s been a journey to get to a place where I prioritize both my artistic career and my professional career. But as I grow more and more confident in what I have to offer, I become less afraid to prioritize myself as an artist as well as a professional.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of the best things about LA is that there’s so much range. You can go on a hike and see snow-capped mountains in the distance, and then have a margarita by the beach. Every neighborhood in LA brings its own energy that inspires and immerses you in its own way. So we’d have to do it all! (sorta)

My itinerary would be: a morning nature walk at Griffith Park before we make our way downtown to wander around The Broad museum. Then, we’d take the Angels Flight Railway to Grand Central Market where we’d grab a bite. And as the day comes to an end, we’d head to Venice to catch the sunset on the beach. If we aren’t absolutely exhausted by then, we’ll grab a drink or two on Abbot Kinney! Is that too much in one day? 😉

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’m constantly inspired and motivated by the other artists in my life. They encourage me to create even when times are hard, to push past the imposter syndrome, and to never stop believing in myself.

In particular, I want to shoutout my mother, Christina Brown-Wilson, a fine artist and graphic designer. She has without a doubt been my biggest inspiration and cheerleader since the very beginning. I’d also like to shoutout my partner, Arthur Lang, an LA based producer, director, and photographer. You can find his incredible work on his website: https://www.arthurlangstudio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbykb/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystabrown/

Image Credits
Headshot photographed by Arthur Lang