Brittney Leeanne Williams

Brittney Leeanne Williams focuses on the body as the primary subject of her pictorial investigations. Her works depict human-like forms in a state of transformation, with bodies contorted and shaped in unusual ways—figures entangled in draperies, all subject to unseen pressures or forces that extend beyond the visible. These figures twist and knot themselves into emotional compositions, enduring complex physical manoeuvres to the extent that bodies, skies and landscapes merge into a transcendent fusion, where corporeal presence blends with the intangible. With a rich and deep colour palette, Williams infuses an interplay between the seen and the unseen, echoing the delicate balance between the presence and absence of the body on the canvas. Emphasizing drapery, which serves as an aesthetic testament to her unwavering dedication to the artistic lineage preceding her, acts as a tactile reminder of this intriguing duality—a trace of presence, whether physical or divine.

In Brittney Leeanne Williams' paintings, the idyllic Southern Californian landscapes undergo a remarkable transformation, evolving into depictions of psychological states, memories, and emotional connections. Throughout her work, omnipresent, often red, folded figures seamlessly integrate with the landscape. Williams employs anthropomorphic forms as conduits for her exploration of race and gender, placing self-representation at the centre of her practice. Whether through semi-abstracted female silhouettes, drapery enveloping invisible bodies, or depictions of the artist herself, these elements serve as contemplative reflections on self-representation and the profound portrayal of the female experience as a Black individual. Their potent symbolism, combined with references to historical paintings, subvert conventional narratives and embrace potentially fresh perspectives on issues of identity and spirituality.

Brittney Leeanne Wiliams’ (born in 1990 in Pasadena, CA, US) work has been exhibited at Alexander Berggruen, New York; The Hole, New York; Nicodim, Los Angeles; Monique Meloche, Chicago; Mamoth, London; Carl Kostyál, Stockholm; Para Site, Hong Kong; Galerie Droste, Paris; Savvy Contemporary, Berlin; Newchild, Antwerp; Collaborations, Copenhagen; and at institutions such as MoAD San Francisco and Telfair Museums in Savannah, GA, among others. Her work is included in various public collections, including the Columbus Museum, Columbus, GA; the Domus Collection, New York/Beijing; Fundacion Medianoche0, Granada, Spain; HE Museum, China; and The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. She is a Joan Mitchell Foundation grant recipient. Williams’ artist residencies include Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, the Fores Project, London; Arts + Public Life, and McColl Center.