Brandon Adams

Brandon Adams grew up in Greenville, Texas — the tight-knit community just outside Dallas that his family has always considered home — and ties his love of art directly to music. His parents encouraged that connection early, surrounding him with the sounds that drove the cultural changes of the 1960s and 1970s. In time his portrait subjects expanded from musicians to well-known figures whose zest for life left a mark on those around them. Comedians, Presidents, inventors, athletes and coaches all appear in his work, yet status is never the point; he is drawn to what he calls “infectious personalities,” people whose drive and determination inspired everyone near them. Each subject is chosen for the passion behind the talent. A 1997 graduate of the Art Institute of Dallas, Adams has worked as a creative director for a range of agencies and corporations. Color has threaded through his entire career and remains the signature of his style, pulling viewers toward a piece the way blossoms pull bees. Through color he gives each character's emotions a life of their own. He works in acrylic, spray paint, stain, water and oils, layering these mediums to build the complexity and rich texture that define his pieces, and he weaves in varieties of wood and defining elements to represent each character.