The Upside Down Painting

Born and raised in Connecticut, USA, Carolyn Brann spent most of the last several years in southern California between Los Angeles and San Diego until August 2020, when she relocated to Berlin, Germany. Mostly self-taught, Brann began abstract painting twelve years ago after a long career in entertainment finance. She supplemented her practice by studying with a local retired Masters Art Professor and sculptor. Simultaneously, Brann began a daily spiritual practice of meditation that informs her work in the form of bold, gestural textures, layered and stained color segments, repetitive patterns, and the use of metal leaf - usually gold. Brann’s process hinges on developing groupings of works in series of 12-20 pieces - the throughline being the stained segments, bold textures, and gold leaf. Brann creates to buoy her mental health and happiness. The creative process takes her away from continuous, meandering, and sometimes useless thoughts, similar to meditation. Now splitting time betwen Berlin and San Diego, Brann’s work continues to be influenced by the natural world, architectural shapes and patterns, and visions that occur during her daily meditations. Her goal is to create accessible work that will spark feeling, emotion, and curiosity by those who are viewing it.