Brian R. Hibbard is a Milwaukee-based artist working at the intersection of illustration, large-scale painting, and whatever he just found in a Dumpster behind a historic building. His work aims to spark meaningful conversations, awkward silences, and at least one “Is this supposed to be ironic?” per exhibition.

Brian’s creative process is fueled by a potent blend of caffeine, intuition, and a firm belief that drywall is an underrated artistic medium. He often incorporates scavenged wood, reclaimed house paint, and semi-mystical construction materials into his work—creating pieces that challenge fine art norms while also possibly supporting load-bearing walls. He refers to these mixed media pieces as “Existential Wood Glue.”

Infused with a curious imagination and a sense of humor that's one part Midwestern charm, one part cosmic prank, Brian’s art invites viewers to question what they’re seeing, why it’s staring back at them, and whether that face in the painting is actually their uncle Gary.

He considers a piece successful if it sparks a conversation, reorients someone’s worldview, or makes a gallery intern say “huh” out loud. He’s not afraid to blur the lines between high art and low-slung scaffolding. If it sticks, drips, glows, or rattles—he’s probably tried it.

“The sharply divided, politically polarized world we live in sometimes has the effect of making our differences feel so vast as to be insurmountable. And yet underneath it all, there’s a part of each of us that finds joy in the same things. And though we’re often told that these are just passing pleasures, in fact, they’re really important, because they remind us of the shared humanity we find in our common experience of the physical world.

I found that some researchers see a connection to our evolution. Color, in a very primal way, is a sign of life, a sign of energy. And the same is true of abundance. We evolved in a world where scarcity is dangerous, and abundance meant survival. So, one confetto isn’t very joyful, but multiply it, and you have a handful of one of the most joyful substances on the planet - confetti.”

— Ingrid Festell Lee

Hard at work honing some graphic designs for Milwaukee neighborhoods.

"We are influenced by what is going on around us, by the events of our daily lives. Connections are made between seemingly unrelated events, feelings, or experiences. The more we are open to and willing to work with the happenstance of the artistic process, the more enlivened the work becomes. Conversely, rigid fixation on an idea about what the work must look like when it is finished can cause the artwork to become awkward or forced looking, and drained of life. The process of enlivening is further enhanced when viewers are added and the multiple ways of seeing a piece of art bring new perspectives." -- Catherine Hyland Moon, 2002