Brea'n Thompson

Artist Statement

My work explores the emotional and psychological connection between music and spirituality in surrealist oil paintings. Each piece is a visual representation of the ghost that lives in my home, Jane, and the way she reacts to certain types of music. These ethereal portraits and landscapes are meant to transport you to another dimension that walks the line between uncanny valley and a spiritual oasis. Over the years, Jane has steadily morphed into something life-like and has begun to take on a personality of her own.  

We often have a very narrow view of the world, and for the past few years, I have been exploring how every individual’s sensory experience differs from my own. I use elements of my synesthesia, which is a condition where one sense, such as hearing, is simultaneously perceived by one or more additional senses, such as sight.

My process is mostly experimental. Using oil paint as my primary medium, I am given the freedom and ability to manipulate the paint to give me a depth in texture and fluidity, creating the swirling patterns that reveal hidden worlds and faces. With a background in geology and many late evenings practicing my cartographic skills, I am literally mapping out the terrain in which my ghost reside.

Artist Bio

Brea’n Thompson was born in Houston, Texas in 1989. While working on her B.A. in Earth and Environmental Science/Geology from Arizona State University, she became inspired to pursue a career in the arts using her experience in Geology to influence her work. As a synesthete, she utilizes her unique ability to see colors in the sounds she hears. Many of her paintings incorporate vibrant colors and lively textures to depict the movement of music. Implementing the effects of textured brushwork, Brea’n seeks to convey the swirl of colors embedded deep in her mind’s eye. Layered with mystery, a playful flirtation with the occult, she uses vibrant colors and interesting textures to create portraits with intimate views into other dimensions that evoke new perceptions of melody and rhythm. Through her work, Brea’n strives to unmask what it means to human and what happens when you no longer are.