Brian Leo

Courtesy of the artist – Brian Leo; Banana Stickers, 2019; acrylic on canvas; 20 x 16 in. (50.8 x 40.64 cm.)

Brian Leo (b. 1976 USA) is a painter known for his small-scale paintings, which range from clever and humorous to poignant. Leo’s source material draws broadly on personal identity, current events, pop culture, and social issues, resulting in brightly colored paintings of cartoonish forms and appropriated images.  As a result, Leo intends for his audience to make free associations from his imagery and to approach his installations as an intimate setting.

Brian Leo received his BFA from Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of Art (1999). After graduation He traveled through Asia and Europe and settled in New York, where he assisted Pop artist, Ronnie Cutrone for a moment. His work has received critical attention in The New York Times, The Miami New Times, The Korea Times, The Korea Daily, Berlin Arts Link, New American Paintings, The Brooklyn Rail among other publications. Leo has exhibited internationally in both galleries and art fairs, including The Seattle Art Fair, Pulse, The San Diego Art Institute, Dumbo Arts Center, Phillips De Pury, and Sotheby’s. His most recent exhibitions include IFAC in New York, Megumi Ogita Gallery in Tokyo, ACAF in Brussels, and Art Gwangju in South Korea.