Brady Willmott
Carlsbad, United States
Brady Willmott is a San Diego-based pop surrealist painter blending dark humor with sharp social commentary. His oil paintings feature anamorphic figures in surreal landscapes, often exploring themes of human disconnection from nature and reality, specifically critiquing reliance on screens. Willmott's style evolved after 17 years as a tattoo artist, a profession that instilled discipline and patience. He encourages viewers to interpret the deeper psychological narratives that emerge from his initially funny characters
Artist Interview
Q: Your work is incredibly evocative, and does an incredible job of demanding viewers to stop, reflect and engage. What do you personally hope your audience takes away from the experience?
A: Ultimately, I hope what they take away is a painting. But I do really appreciate when people take the time to stop and take a deeper look. Even if they have a bad opinion of it, you know if they stop to take a look it was at least of interest, especially at large art fairs and conventions.
Q: There’s a unique blend of dark humour and surrealism in your work. How do you balance these elements while maintaining emotional depth?
A: Most of what I draw just starts out with characters I think are funny. As I sit with them and think, I realise the deeper psychological narratives they actually have, and I build around that. For example, I started drawing these little cherub shark combo creatures coming out of TVs and realised they had to do with my issues with screen time. I hate the social media aspect of life and most likely wouldn't engage with it if I didn’t need to deal with promoting my art.
Q: You’ve had quite a journey, transitioning from tattoo artistry to oil painting. Can you share what sparked this transition and how your past experiences influence your art today?