Hebru Brantley
Delux "Edition" Print, 2021 - 5-color screenprint, 25.4 x 73.7 cm
Into the Wild, 2021 - 30-color lithograph printed with Marinoni lithographic press, hand cut. BFK Rives 300 g, 86 x 73 cm
When The Wind is at Your Back, 2020 - Giclee on 330 gsm Museum Cotton Smooth Rag Paper, 68.6 x 91.4 cm
Biography:
Hebru Brantley is an American contemporary artist known for his distinctive, narrative-driven work that revolves around his conceptualized characters. Drawing from art historical references such as Robert Colescott, Andy Warhol, Kerry James Marshall and Jean-Michel Basquiat, the work of Brantley reassesses contemporary culture and mythology through a unique lens. He utilizes his characters in a narrative output to address complex ideas around nostalgia, fear, safety, power, and hope. The color palettes, motifs and characters themselves juxtapose this intricacy, creating an air of innocence and accessibility around his layered and multifaceted ideas.
Brantley’s work is often seen challenging the traditional view of the hero or protagonist. The contexts and expressions of his youthful cast of characters – which are sometimes in autobiographical form – summon the audience to reimagine childhood and the American cultural experience in Brantley’s coined context of ‘dark fiction’. His work is frequently depicted exploring this macrocosm, where dark represents an identity, continent, and mindset. In his Negro Mythos series, Brantley remagines the super heroes of American pop culture as people of color – as a quest to readdress modern mythology through his lens. Flyboy, his most known character inspired by the Tuskegee Airmen, was also born from this concept.
Some of his most notable collectors include LeBron James, Jay-Z and Beyonce, Lenny Kravitz, George Lucas, and Rahm Emanuel, among others. Brantley has also collaborated with brands such as Nike, Hublot, Lego, and Adidas.
Brantley’s work as a storyteller frequently extends beyond the colorful dimensions of the canvas. In October 2019, Brantley opened an experiential fine art installation fueled by the narrative of his characters FLYBOY and LIL MAMA. The 6,000-square-foot installation in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood hosted over 23,000 ticketed guests and offered them limited-edition merchandise. Brantley currently resides in Los Angeles where he is expanding into content creation including the adaptation of the FLYBOY Universe through his media company, Angry Hero.
Brantley earned a B.A. in Film from Clark Atlanta University and has a background in Design and Media Illustration.