Thinkspace Projects is honored to present their debut solo exhibition with artist Ezra Brown, Trying to Keep it Together. In a series of works that toe the line between whimsical and emotional, he creates complex characters and scenarios that are truly accessible to viewers.
Using his signature ‘Happy the Clown’ as a reflection of himself, he depicts situations where the character is often quite the opposite of what his name suggests, using him to demonstrate coping with events in the world around us today. Leaning into the title, Trying to Keep it Together, Brown delves into the deeply relatable, exploring the feelings of overwhelm that come up on a day-to-day basis, whether it be preparing for a show or just trying to manage everyday life.
“This is a love story gone wrong and unfortunately it has a tragic ending," Brown says, "I think we’ve all gone through traumatic experiences and this was an opportunity to show just how horrible things can get when we let our emotions get out of hand.”
Inspired by his love of Disney, Brown’s work has a childlike, nostalgic quality that evokes a positive feeling, no matter the subject matter. Underneath the style that brings out the kid in viewers, Brown urges attendees to use his work as a device to tap into their own feelings, and connect on an emotional level.
With a simple creative process fueled by his own emotions at the time, Brown creates work that is a window into his own emotions, serving as a visual diary in some instances. Driven by a desire to create pieces that he himself would buy, the collection is curated and cohesive.
About Ezra Brown
Ezra Brown is currently based in San Diego, California, where he mainly creates works with acrylics on canvas, as well as some occasional woodworking. He was inspired by his father, also an artist, and felt encouraged to pursue his own artistic career as he studied at the Academy of Art, San Francisco. He hopes to inspire all generations with his art, which he creates from his personal encounters and struggles, encouraging the viewer to relate to these shared experiences.
