Davon Brantley
The Vivid Process of Grief in Davon Brantley’s Midsommar in Granada Gardens
Artist-in-Residence Davon Brantley presents Chapter 2: Midsommar in Granada Gardens, a collection of paintings in conversation with purgatory and grief. The tension of vibrant colors and muted grey tones represent the blending of emotions surrounding the loss of a loved one. Brantley’s characters move with dramatic effect, illuminating the intimate nature of confronting grief. The exhibit explores the limbo of being at once void of emotion and yet overwhelmed by emotion in combination with Brantley’s meditations on death, life, sexuality, masculinity, colorism, and racial stereotyping. A deeply personal exhibit, Midsommar In Granada Gardens is a visual blueprint of how Brantely has analyzed grief in the wake of his grandmother’s death.
“I lead the audience through my mind as if they were watching a play, utilizing dramatic compositions, absurd realism, and characters that act out certain emotions and themes in which I play all of the roles. Through larger-than-life-size scaled pieces, I present a glimpse inside of my mental landscape and inhabitants; finding a ground for what is invisible that bleeds into my waking world.” – Davon Brantley
About the Artist Davon Brantley:
Davon Brantley implements self-portraiture and psychology in his work and is inspired by the dissociative behaviors that happen because of trauma and the repetition involved with these experiences. He received his BFA in Drawing from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Davon has exhibited or helped curate at several places including BAYarts, The Museum of Contemporary Art (moCa) Cleveland, the CAN Triennial, The Morgan Conservatory, and The Museum of Creative Human Art. Brantley worked with community organizations like The Museum of Creative Human Art, and Graffiti HeArt, and has also furthered his investigations in Printmaking with DeepDive Art projects and CIA. He has participated in mural activities and advocates for the importance of art in young lives.