Have you met…Brian Cypher?

An introduction can be a wonderful thing. You can meet interesting people, and make new friends. You can be introduced to your new favorite foods, books, music, or artist.

I’d like to introduce you to some of my favorite artists. Some of whom I’ve been familiar with for years, and other I’ve only recently been introduced to.

The artist I’d like to introduce is the painter Brian Cypher, and he was recommended to me by Vincent Hawkins, EC, and Rosaire Appel.

Color Cloak
2013
Oil on canvas
48 x 60 inches

Brian Cypher lives and works in Washington state. He first came on scene in New York in a show entitled “All Together Now” curated by Julie Torres during Bushwick Open Studios 2012. Since that time, Cypher’s reputation has quickly grown. Using paper as his primary medium, Cypher constructs a world of mental musings that result in slow thoughtful works. Out of ink, graphite, thin washes and collage he has constructed a fresh abstract language. Elements of repetitive marking and organic and geometric abstraction, come together in these quiet and contemplative works, that owe a depth to biomorphism and naïve art.

As an artist, Cypher is self taught. In high school, he first experimented with abstraction, working on the backside of pieces of mat board. He chose paper because it was an abundant and inexpensive resource. It was a logical transition from these first drawings on paper, to choosing drawing as an end in itself.

Lost Leaders 2013 oil on canvas

Other material relating to Brian Cypher:

blurb.com: Brian Cypher – Future Forage.

Studio critical: Brian Cypher Interview.

Curating Contemporary: Brian Cypher.

Look&Listen: Brian Cypher.

Documents From The living Room: Brian Cypher.

Schemaprojects: Brian Cypher.

If you liked this introduction please check out the Previous and Next.