Paul Brigham creates an intuitive, nonlinear narrative through the visual elements of design, symbol and color-fields. Images from the natural world are drawn or silk-screened without deliberation within color-fields to evoke the physical and the spiritual dimensions of landscape. The screened images create a tension between recognizable forms and simple layers of texture and paint. Recent paintings have been inspired by Japanese bird and flower prints.

In his work, Brigham captures the transitory nature of all things by layering images in such a way as to make them appear in a state of flux. He creates his paintings by building up their surfaces with layers of paint, molding paste, collage and artful scribblings, scratching and sanding between layers of media. The technique creates surface texture plus a sense of depth and process by revealing images and colors from prior layers. Abstract Expressionism, Asian art, Zen, Haiku poetry and the inherent mystery of nature serve as abiding influences.

Brigham studied drawing and painting at the University of Massachusetts and painting and printmaking at the College of Marin. As an artist, however, he is primarily self-taught preferring the learning derived from direct observation and the experience of nature.

He has exhibited extensively throughout the Western States, and his work is in collections worldwide. In the San Francisco area, Brigham’s work can be seen in commissions for Joie de Vivre Hospitality at the Hotel Del Sol, Laurel Inn and Wild Palms.

Education:
1990 Painting, Printmaking, College of Marin
1980 Painting, Drawing, University of Massachusetts

Selected Exhibitions:
2009
New Paintings, Solo Show, Sue Greenwood Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA.
New Paintings, Solo Show, Patricia Rovzar Gallery, Seattle, WA.
New Work, Solo Show, Gallatin River Gallery, Big Sky, MT.
2008
Group Show, Selby Fleetwood Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
New Paintings, Solo Show, Patricia Rovzar Gallery, Seattle, WA
New Work, Solo Show, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
Group Show, Invitational, Jules Place, Boston, MA.
Group Show, Invitational, Studio E Gallery, West Palm Beach, FL
Give and Take, Invitational, Hang Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
2007
New Paintings, Solo Show, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA.
Home On the Range, Solo Show, Gallatin River Gallery, Big Sky, MT.
On the Wing, Invitational, Exploding Head Gallery, Sacramento, CA.
Spring, Three Person Show, Judy Saslow Gallery, Chicago, IL.
New Work, Solo Show, Patricia Rovzar Gallery, Seattle, WA.
Scene Inside, Solo Show, Hang Gallery, San Francisco, CA
New Work, 3 Person Show, Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA.
New Paintings, Invitational, Jule’s Place, Boston, MA
2006
Flight/ Pattern, Invitational, Hang Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
Transitions, Solo Show, Sue Greenwood Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
New Work, Two Person Show, Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA.
Spellbound, Invitational Show, Jule’s Place, Boston, MA.
New Work, Invitational Show, Karen Terzian Gallery, Park City, UT.
2005
Collector’s Showcase, Patricia Rovzar Gallery, Kirkland, WA.
Passages, Solo Show, Sue Greenwood Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA.
Emerging Artists, Invitational, Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA.
Organic Abstraction, Invitational, Hang Gallery Annex, San Francisco, CA
Field and Stream, Solo Show, Gallatin River Gallery, Big Sky, MT.
Peace Within the Noise, Two Person Show, Exploding Head Gallery, Sacramento, CA.
2004
Undercurrents, Solo Show, Hang Gallery Annex, San Francisco, CA.
Art Auction, Juried Exhibition, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA
Floating World, Solo Show, Greenwood Chebithes Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2003
Where the Wild Things Are, Solo Show, Gallatin River Gallery, Big Sky, MT
West Marin Wild, Group Show, Point Reyes National Seashore, Olema, CA
Hospitality House Auction, Group Show, Dolby Chadwick Gallery, San Francisco, CA
The Art of Saving Oaks, Invitational, Filoli, Woodside, CA
Of the Earth, Invitational, Indian Valley Artist Gallery, Novato, CA
2002
The Art of Saving Oaks, Invitational, Bay Model, Sausalito, CA
Nature Spirit, Invitational, Claudia Chapline Gallery, Stinson Beach, CA
Hospitality House Auction, Group Show, Branstein-Quay, San Francisco, CA
Colors of White, Invitational, Hang Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2001
Tea Garden Perspectives, Solo Show, Hang Gallery, San Francisco, CA
A Figurative Show, Invitational, Civic Center, San Rafael, CA
Mendocino Genome Project, Invitational, Jean van Keuren Estate, Davis, CA
West Coast Currents, Group Show, Lisa Coscino, Pacific Grove, CA
2000
Earth, Sea, and Air, Invitational, Claudia Chapline Gallery, Stinson Beach, CA
Conversations with Landscape, Invitational, Marin Community Foundation, San Rafael, CA
Awakening to the Earth, Group Show, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael, CA
1999
Bay Area Artists, Group Show, Hang Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1998
Birds of a Feather, Two-Person Show, Cilmi Gallery, Sausalito, CA
1997
Harvest Still Life, Solo Show, Framing Dragon Gallery, Mill Valley, CA
1996
All Saints/All Souls, Alter-ed Images, Group Show, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA
1995
A World of Maps, Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Anchorage, AK
1994
Images and Objects, Group Show, ACCI, Berkeley, CA
1992
Animals and Us, Group Show, Artisans Gallery, Mill Valley, CA
1991
Shrines; A Place of Worship, Group Show, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA
Contemporary Visions of Our Lady of Guadeloupe, Group Show, Downey Museum of Art, Downey, CA

Awards
2000 Award Winner, Painting, Portland Art Exhibition, Portland, OR
1999 Best of Show, Marin Art Competition, San Rafael, CA
1995 Honorable Mention, Marin Arts Council Individual Artist Grant, San Rafael, CA
1992 Best of Class, Marin Art Competition, San Rafael, CA
1991 Merit Award, Shrines a Place of Worship, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA

Commissions
2002 Periodical Cover, Xantippe Annual, Volume 1, Bookbeat, Fairfax, CA
2001 Wild Palms Hotel, Sunnyvale, CA
2000 Earth Day 2000, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael, CA
1999 Double Tree Inn, Salt Lake City, UT
Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, Mill Valley, CA
Laurel Inn, San Francisco, CA
1998 Hotel Del Sol, San Francisco, CA
1997 Real Food Company, Sausalito, CA