About me:
NEW WORK POSTING SOON!!!
Brian Banks was born in Millington, Tennessee and found it so agreeable that he saw fit to leave the state at the ripe age of six months. Traveling with a band of gypsies his father liked to call “the Navy” Brian spent his formative years on the run, moving from state to state, safe house to safe house. It is thought that because of this nomadic existence Brian developed as a lonely child, shy, introverted, un-athletic and with a keen sense of observation; traits that would, ironically, suit him ideally for a career in the visual arts. After an award winning elementary school career and gaining widespread recognition within his high school as the best “drawer”, Brian somehow conned his way into the Rhode Island School of Design where he discovered, much to his horror, that he was indeed - a mere "illustrator". It was also there that the young artist learned how to trust his creative instinct, stick it to "the man” and beg for food...
Upon graduation, Brian wandered the earth (East Coast) seeking creative fulfillment in a variety of lackluster day jobs before finally settling down as a graphic artist. Often described as an asshole in his youth, but in reality just misunderstood, the artist was, not surprisingly, drawn to the high-end screen print industry, the pinnacle of graphic art. In the span of just a few short years, earlier achievements and educational instruction were undone before his eyes or forgotten altogether. His self-esteem shattered, and unable to trust his own judgment any longer, Brian has returned to his first passion, and ultimately his salvation, painting; in a last-ditch effort to make sense of his shattered dreams and wasted youth...
Painting in a style he once referred to as neo-atavistic realism, Brian painstakingly recreates scenes of daily life in the ancient world, often incorporating familiar objects and themes from the present to create a juxtaposition of time and values in his socially satirical work. Humor is employed as a means to an end in order to engage the unsuspecting viewer as a witness to the artist’s observations. Inspired by all cultures of the ancients, particularly those of the Maya, Aztec, and Polynesians, Brian is slowly melding aspects of each into one homogonous people to better highlight the lack of differences we have among ourselves and to illustrate his belief that for all of our technological advances, man’s nature has, in fact, not evolved. When not openly mocking our culture or watching TV, Brian can be found in his palatial shoebox of a studio, located in rural Virginia, looking at reference material, sleeping, entertaining guests, thrashing around on the floor and yes, at times, actually painting.

"Eleven" (oil on canvas, 24"x48", 2009)

"Hey Ho, Let's Go!" 1 of 4 (oil on panel, 3"x3", 2009)

"Hey Ho, Let's Go!" 2 of 4 (oil on panel, 3"x3", 2009)

"Hey Ho, Let's Go!" 3 of 4 (oil on panel, 3"x3", 2009)

"Hey Ho, Let's Go!" 4 of 4 (oil on panel, 3"x3", 2009)


"Surrender Dorothy" (oil on canvas, 28"x42", 2009)

"The King Cannot Sin" (oil on canvas, 44"x38", 2009)

"Do Not Pass Go - Do Not Collect $200..." (oil on canvas, 48"x60", unframed)

"Just A Little Off The Top" (oil on canvas, 40"x30", unframed)

"Elvis Bob (It's Good To Be The King)" (oil on canvas, 40"x30", unframed)

"What Can Brown Do For You?" (oil on canvas, 60"x48", unframed)

"Moe's Moai" (oil on canvas, 40"x30", unframed)

"Will You Swallow If I Tell You That I Love You?" (oil on canvas, 48"x60", unframed)

"Chez Fred (Tad y Johnna)" (oil on canvas, 40"x30", unframed)

"Take Five (Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em)" (oil on canvas, 48"x60", unframed)

"Nasty Dogs And Funky Kings" (oil on canvas, 48"x60", unframed)

"The Mummy Guy" (oil on canvas, 48"x54", unframed)
......
Who I'd like to meet:
artists + dreamers + those who work in sarcasm like sculptors work in clay + Bigfoot + supporters of the arts + beer drinkers and hell raisers + new galleries + time travelers + the occasional fellow asshole + Elvis (y’all know he’s still alive) + aliens + anybody with a good sense of humor, who's not too uptight, and doesn't take themselves too seriously - which probably means you if you've made it this far on my profile (you get bonus points if you actually like my work).
Comments
Dec 14 2009 11:48 AM
Dec 13 2009 3:40 AM
Hoping it'll be a sweet one, and maybe even the kids won't fight with each other-now That would be a priceless gift, eh?
Happy Birthday, Hon....xoxoxo
Nov 30 2009 8:34 PM
THE MONSTER EVENT OF THE DECADE!!
VERNE LANGDON -MONSTER OF CEREMONIES
RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD CAST !!!!
Allen Trautman -(TarMan) Beverly Randolph (Tina) Don Calfa - (Ernie)
Brian Peck (Scuz) John Philbin (Chuck) Thom Mathews ( Freddy )
Tony Gardner -Makeup Artist ROTLD,Zombieland and many more
AWARD WINNING FX ARTISTS DISPLAYING AND SELLING!!
200 venders!!! MONSTER MUSEUM !!! Presentations!!!!!
For more info: www.therubberroom101.com
Nov 1 2009 4:47 PM
Happy Halloween, you :-) xoxoxo
Oct 18 2009 3:44 PM
great surprise to see ur artwork at JC Gallery in Oceanside last night! really amazing control in ur brilliantly insane paintings!
Oct 15 2009 10:53 AM
All bias aside, your new paintings definitely get my two snaps and a circle! Love them....they're just too cool. :-) xoxoxo
Oct 6 2009 11:44 AM
Thanks for The Fiendship.
Drop on by The Haus and www.isound.com/spookhaus this month or any time and have a listen and download FREE Spooky soundscapes, Creepy Soundtracks and Twisted tunes for your next Ritual,Seance Horror Movie and HALLOWEEN PARTY!!
Have a Wicked Halloween!!
Sep 30 2009 3:24 PM
Video documentation of a performance piece by my friend Nate Kassel who rode around on his bike slapping high-fives to people who were trying to hail taxi cabs in NYC. Enjoy!
http://www.nathanielkassel.com/..
Sep 22 2009 11:23 AM
Sep 3 2009 10:52 AM
Hey, you wouldn't mind if I consider this as a backup plan, now would you? :-)
Aug 31 2009 11:37 AM
hier mal was Dramatisches auf den Samstag Nachmittag..;o)
Aug 22 2009 1:58 AM
Think a row of these would be construed as a slap in the face? :-)
Aug 20 2009 4:35 PM
Aug 11 2009 10:22 AM
Just stopping by on the off chance you'll check in here instead of Facebook :-) xoxoxo
Aug 11 2009 10:22 AM
platform58 issue 010 light - Free Online -
Submit art for issue 011 'freedom' - deadline September 27
full archive, creative network and competition with a cash prize at www.platform58.com
Jul 29 2009 11:06 AM
xoxoxo
Jul 22 2009 4:32 PM
Jul 16 2009 5:36 PM
Jul 13 2009 4:13 PM
Jul 7 2009 2:09 PM
xoxoxoxo
Jun 29 2009 8:37 PM
Thank you for adding us!
Jun 28 2009 1:09 PM
Classic :) xoxoxo
Jun 25 2009 6:46 PM
OOoodles of Big Ones
Madame M
x
Jun 23 2009 1:21 PM
xoxoxoxoxo
Jun 18 2009 1:55 PM
hhhmmmm...I wonder what the pay is like in the evil villain crime-fighting sector recently? I like the thought of getting to wear a cape :) xoxoxo