User:Brycehudson

Bryce Hudson; a contemporary artist living in Louisville, Kentucky. His work can be divided into two distinct categories; paintings and mixed media photo-based prints. At the very core of his work are social issues surrounding race, class and stereotypes in contemporary American culture.

The presence of struggle and social interaction are also themes found in his work; keen on monitoring situations, actions and documentation within mainstream media outlets with which he draws inspiration and composes a dialogue. His educational background is rich in art, art history, design and cultural studies. Bryce keeps a web log and always welcomes the opportunity to network with other artists and view work.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Generation Next

Cover article in Velocity Magazine

Bryce Hudson Painter and experimental artist, 28

Bryce Hudson has been battling racial issues nearly all his life.

He was adopted by a black family and raised in an upper-middle-class predominantly white environment. Hudson, who is biracial, identified more with being African-American, but growing up, many black kids told him that he sounded too white. Others mistook him for Latino or Asian.

Needless to say, Hudson struggled with identity issues. But instead of lashing out at the world, he handled his frustrations through art.

"It's a very abstract way of dealing with issues," Hudson said. "As I tried to find ways of dealing with who I was, it was so easy to express things (through art)."

Now Hudson is known for his paintings, digital art prints and experimental pieces that explore issues of race. The Columbus, Ohio, native has lived in Louisville nearly 10 years. He's had his work shown at the Swanson Reed Contemporary gallery, the Water Tower Art Museum, the 21C Museum, the Speed Art Museum and more. His work has also been exhibited in Seattle, Chicago and Atlanta.

In his paintings, Hudson often works with simple shapes and unpredictable lines and uses colors to represent races or groups. Sometimes it takes a glance at the title to get what Hudson wants to say to you. One painting, for example, consists of a green background that's crisscrossed by several white lines with a small black line jutting out from the side of the piece. If you don't get it at first, just read the title: "There Goes the Neighborhood."

This year Hudson broke new ground with the photographic print series "Kentucky Gentlemen." The pieces feature Hudson, who, with the help of Actors Theatre of Louisville, had been transformed to represent several different races and nationalities. There is a black bellman, a Chinese student, a Jewish man and many more. The series was presented at Gallery NuLu on Market Street as part of Hudson's first Louisville solo show.

Gallery NuLu owner Gill Holland said Hudson has just what an artist needs to succeed -- "a distinct artistic vision and iconographic style. Bryce's controlled paintings could be done by no one else. Even his sometimes tongue-in-cheek titles for them show a certain character."

Hudson has also made a name for himself as an in-demand web designer. Holland feels Hudson's new media skills will only further propel his art career.

"Bryce is really a great promoter of his images, and the brand that is Bryce Hudson," Holland said. "He knows new media and works it. I am sure many people know some of his images without knowing his name."

Now Hudson is turning his hard work and creativity to a new project -- refurbishing an 80-year-old abandoned medical center in Portland with the hope of turning it into one of the city's hottest galleries.

"I have to start an entire scene and get people to recognize not only this part of town, but to recognize the potential of this part of town," Hudson said. "But I know I'll be successful in getting people down here, because if you have the energy to do it and you don't stop you will get people."

-- Javacia N. Harris