Thompson Brennan lives and works in Vancouver, British Columbia. Trained both in traditional media and art theory, he sees all art making as conceptual action.
Studio 226 - 1000 Parker Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A2H2 Canada
Thompson Brennan was born in San Francisco, California and has lived in Beirut, Lebanon, New York, Virginia, Maine, Montreal and Seattle before immigrating to Canada in 2005. He studied art at the Corcoran College of Art+ Design, Washington, D.C. and was awarded the Pollock-Krasner Grant for painting. He is listed in Who’s Who in American Art, 1991. His work is included in more than thirty public collections and more than seventy-five private collections. Brennan says of his creative process:" Art for me is about being in the present...continuously checking in with the universe in its deep wisdom." He says that " the innate logic of the piece will naturally express itself if I am paying attention and don't overly interfere…"
CV
Selected Solo Exhibitions
Dirty Pretty, 1000 Parker Street, Vancouver, B.C. 2013
Hostage Philosophy, Parker Street Studios, Vancouver, B.C. 2012
Witness, 226 - 1000 Parker Street, Vancouver, B.C. 2011
Tectonic Skin, Parker Street Studios, Vancouver, B.C. 2010
Letters to A. Breton, 226 - 1000 Parker Street, Vancouver, B.C. 2008
First Landing, 1000 Parker Street, Vancouver, B.C. 2007
World Muse, Foster/White Gallery, Seattle, WA. 2001
Roundup, The OK Hotel, Seattle, WA. 1998
New Paintings, The Phinney Neighborhood Center, Seattle, WA. 1998
Connections, Attachmate, Bellevue, WA. 1998
Pieces of Eight, Plaza 600 Building, Seattle, WA. 1997
Polyester Suite, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle, WA. 1992
Machina Ex Deo, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle, WA. 1990
Spartan Table, Foster/White Gallery, Seattle, WA. 1992
New Work, Harleen and Allen, San Francisco, CA. 1987
Shadow of the Sun, Foster/White Gallery, Seattle, WA. 1987
New Paintings, Woodside/Braseth Gallery, Seattle, WA. 1984
New Work, Woodside/Braseth Gallery, Seattle, WA. 1982
Maine Event, Plymouth State College, Plymouth, NH. 1980
Selected Group/Invitational Exhibitions
Best of the Best, The Backus Museum, Fort Pierce, FL. 2013
Uncovered, Cityscape Gallery, North Vancouver, B.C. 2013
Wax Poetic, Britannia Gallery, Vancouver, B.C. 2013
Centennial Theatre Show, North Vancouver, B.C. 2007
Faculty Annual, Art Institute of Seattle, Seattle,WA. 2000, 2002
OK2K, O.K. Hotel, Seattle, WA., 2000
Northwest by Northwest, White Dog Studios, Santa Fe, N.M. 1997
Summer Intensives, Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle, WA. 1995
Computer Art, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle, WA. 1993-1994
Faculty Exhibit, Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle, WA. 1993
The Human Condition, Eastern Washington University, Richard Twedt, curator, 1991
Collaborators, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma,WA. General Idea, N.Y.C.curators 1991
Metalist Conflux, Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle, WA. 1990
Northwest International Art Competition, Bellingham, WA. 1990
Environmental Impact Statements, Missoula Museum of the Arts, Missoula MT. Deborah Mitchell, curator- one year touring exhibit. 1990
Generic Art, Freemont Fine Arts Foundry, Seattle WA. 1990
Gallery Artists, Foster/White Gallery, Seattle, WA. 1990
Painters from the USA, Art Base, Singapore. 1989
In Transit, Bumbershoot Festival of the Arts, Seattle, WA. Ron Glowen, Curator. 1988
Selected Corporate Collections
Integra Architecture, Inc. Vancouver, B.C.
Swedish Hospital, Seattle, WA.
Med-Tec Corporation, Bellevue, WA.
Gordon Investments, Tacoma, WA.
James Paul Jones Company, Seattle, WA.
Carr Tuttle, Seattle, WA.
Pacific First Federal Savings Bank, Seattle, WA.
Bogle and Gates, Seattle, WA.
Orlando Science Center, Orlando, FL.
St. Martin's Abbey, Lacey, WA.
Nordstrom, Inc. San Francisco, CA., Washington D.C., Los Angeles, CA., Seattle, WA.
Northwest Securities, Seattle, WA.
Polyclinic, Seattle, WA.
Neal Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seattle, WA.
Roy and Kesaris, Ellsworth, ME.
Commissions/Projects
Stream, 1998-2001. Tacoma Solid Waste Utility, Tacoma, WA. In collaboration with Clark Wiegman. Land fill and solid waste disposal facility to park conversion. Funding: Tacoma Public Works.
Youth Art Garden, 1996-1997. 25th and Jackson Street, Seattle, WA. Design team co-lead with Don Fels. Suspended wire-frame sculpture, cast concrete benches and ceramic inlaid pavers, soft- form cast trellises. Landscape Architect: Karen Ames. Funding: Coyote Junior High and the City of Seattle.
The Chocolate Factory, 1995. 23rd and Cherry Street, Seattle, WA. Design team co-lead with Liza von Rosenstiel. Refurbishment of building façade. Design, fabrication and installation of 230 cast concrete tiles, with additions of recycled glass tile and metal. Funding: Coyote Junior High and the city of Seattle.
River of Time, 1994. Campus of Henkle Middle School and Columbia High School, White Salmon, WA. Design, fabrication and installation of 2 monumental steel and stone windvanes, 170 lineal feet of fence with steel and stone inclusions. Funding: Washington State Arts Commission.
Recycling Is..., 1993-1994. Recycling bin refurbishment for King County. Design and installation of 20 murals on steel with paint and vinyl graphics, in residencies at five schools. Funding: King County Solid Waste Division.
Elemental Cycle, 1992-1993. Enumclaw Transfer and Recycling Station, Enumclaw, WA.
Design team project with Jim Pridgeon includes signage, paving and 20 monumental sculptures on 17 acre site. Emphasis on use of recycled materials. Funding: King County Arts Commission. Architects: KPG & Associates.
Orca Garden, 1991-1992. Orca-at-Columbia Elementary School, Seattle, WA. Sundial, windvanes and ceramic murals, in residency. Funding: Seattle Arts Commission.
Persian Screen, 1991. Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA. Installation in collaboration with Patrick Donley and Pepe Quinn. Design, fabrication and installation of television monitors in oil, parachutes, scrims, laser, video and sound.
Gun Relief, 1989. King County Police Precinct 2, Bothell, WA. Design and fabrication with melted and forged illegal and confiscated weapons. Bas-relief in 3 panels. Funding: King County Arts Commission. Architect: Jack Morse.
Into Light, 1988. Orlando Science Center, Orlando, FL. Design and fabrication of an interactive installation with water vapor, lasers and electronics, in residency. Funding:
Orlando Science Center.
Passage, 1980. Bangor International Airport, Bangor, Maine. Design and fabrication of 18 panels, each 5’x6’, 5’x108’ o.a. oil on canvas. A representation in non-objective terms of the passage of light in one day.
Education
Goddard College, Plainfield, VT., B.A.
University of Maine, Orono, ME.
Corcoran School of Art+Design, Washington D.C.
East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C.
Bibliography/Media References
Pencz, Vivian. “Eastside Culture Crawl: Getting back to the Brushes”, The Georgia Straight, Vancouver, B.C. November 13, 2013
Thomas, Karla. "Artist Aids Students in Recycle Job", Times-News, Highline, WA. Oct. 17, 1993
Price, Lyle. "Mural Brings Out Artist In Students", Valley Daily News, Kent, WA. Sept 27, 1993
Long, J.C. "The Taj Mahal Of Recycling Stations", Enumclaw Courier-Herald, June 23, 1993
Weber, Bruce. " Cop Art", Works in Progress, the New York Times Magazine, April 30, 1989
Clark, Jacob R. "Swords into Plowshares", Law Enforcement News, April 30, 1989
Lyke, M.L. "Art Under Fire", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 7, 1989
Johnston, Diane. "Guns Melted Into Sculpture At County Shooting Range", The Arts-
KCAC Arts Newsletter, March, 1989
Smallwood, Lyn. "Shotgun Welding", The Seattle Weekly, June 12, 1989
Becker, Jody. "Artist will Transform Lethal Street Weapons", Seattle Times, July 19, 1988
Associated Press. "His Sculpture Triggers Meltdown By Gun Enthusiasts", Los Angeles Times, March 14, 1989.
Professional Affiliations
2006-2010
member of the Public Art Interim Task Force for the combined City and District of North Vancouver, B.C.
2006- 2010
member of the Advisory Design Panel for the District of North Vancouver,B.C.
2010- present
member North Vancouver Community Arts Council, North Vancouver, B.C.