Pictured above are several of Brin Levinson’s paintings, a portrait of Brin by Roxanne Patruznick and a picture of a J Crew model in front of one of Brin’s prints at Galerie F in Chicago.
The first time I saw work from Brin Levinson was 2008. At the time, I owned an art gallery in Hood River and a guy brought in a print from Brin that he had bought at Dog River coffee (also in Hood River). I of course loved the piece (but I don’t recommend bringing in art that you bought somewhere else into an art gallery).
The cool thing about Brin’s work is that once you see it, you don’t forget it or mistake for anyone else. So, when I went across the mighty Columbia to meet with John Roz, owner of the Roz gallery the first thing I noticed was Brin’s work. Sadly, only a few month’s later several original pieces from Brin were destroyed in a fire at that gallery.
It was an extremely hot week in August 2009 when what I consider to be the coolest art event I have ever been to occurred: Manor of Art. An abandoned retirement home was taken over by 130 Portland artists, who were given cart blanche to do whatever they would like. There was every type of installation, interactive art, live performances and of course: work from Brin Levinson.
The next show that I really remember seeing Brin’s work in was in 2011, it was a portrait show organized by Roxanne Patruznick (another phenomenal artist and a gem of the Portland scene). The show was titled Face to Face, and artists were paired together to do each other’s portrait. It was displayed at Urban Grind Coffee Shop in Portland, and it was a really amazing show.
A few months later we had a themed group show in our art gallery, which now had been in Portland for more than a year which Roxanne participated in. And, she brought (among a lot of other people) Brin! That was the first and only time I have ever actually met him in person.
Honestly, I have seen his work so many times around Portland I have lost track, places like Graeter Gallery and People’s Art. But, what inspired this post is pictured above: running into his work at Galerie F in Chicago! It was so cool to see his work expanding and being shown around the country, and like a breath of fresh air to see some Portland art in the windy city.
Make sure to check out Brin’s work at his website, and he is also participating in “Wider than a Postcard” at the Breeze Block Gallery in Portland (which I will be attending).
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