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Braxton Garneau, Artist – Edmonton

Braxton Garneau’s work is based in collecting and researching materials, culture, and history. Focusing on harvested and hand-processed materials, he explores the sociocultural history of his Caribbean heritage. He holds a BFA from the University of Alberta and has had solo exhibitions at Stride Gallery, Calgary (2021) and Parallel Space, Edmonton (2019). His work was featured in the retrospective exhibition Black Every Day at the Art Gallery of Alberta (2021), It’s About Time: Dancing Black in Canada 1900 – 1970 and Now at Mitchell Art Gallery (2020), curated by Seika Boye, and New Direction, curated by AJ Girard and Artx at Château Cîroc, Miami, Florida (2021). Procession, his first American solo exhibition, is currently on display at GAVLAK in Los Angeles until July 1.

  1. My collection

What started as a small childhood collection of petrified wood has turned into a vast assortment of curiosities, which I regularly turn to for inspiration. Many of the materials are used to create portraits, shrines, and corporeal forms that explore the sociocultural history of my Caribbean heritage.

  1. Contemporary classical music

Shout-out to Snorri Hallgrímsson, Ólafur Arnalds, and Hania Rani for making up the majority of my painting playlist.

  1. Little cousins

Studio visits from my little cousins are always a great reminder that having fun was my earliest motivator for making art. My two youngest cousins never fail to reignite my imagination and excitement with their seemingly endless questions and energy. They also make budget-friendly studio assistants.

  1. Costumes

I will forever be obsessed with the endless ways costuming has been employed to transform and empower the human body and spirit. Adorning the body with paint, fabrics, hides, and many other materials is a universal act that highlights an innate form of expression.

  1. Walking in the river valley

It can be very easy to push aside my physical health once I’ve immersed myself in a body of work. Going for walks in the river valley has been the most successful way for me to show my legs and lungs some appreciation.

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