Who is painter Hebru Brantley?
Hebru Brantley is a contemporary artist based in Chicago, Illinois whose Afro-Futurism paintings and sculptures often depict a younger version of himself. These works draw heavily from anime and graffiti culture. While his work is rooted in the graffiti culture of his youth (he spent time tagging trans and buildings in his native Chicago), he’s transcended these roots -- mixing in equal parts pop culture, the work of Basquiat, and even aspects of David Spiller. Brantley has become an international sensation, his work is regularly exhibited across the world including Hong Kong, London, San Francisco, and Switzerland. He has been featured in such varied publications as The Chicago Tribune, Hypebeast, and the New York Post.
Brantley has several celebrity collectors, including Lebron James, Jay-Z, Beyonce, and George Lucas. His pop appeal has led to his collaborations with brands like Nike and Adidas. In 2019, Brantley opened an Art installation based on his characters FLYBOY and LIL MAMA in the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago. It had over 23,000 ticketed guests. He continues to develop his artistic projects through his media company, Angry Hero. p>
What kind of art does Hebru Brantley make?
Hebru Brantley is a multidisciplinary artist whose work has touched the worlds of graffiti, design, animation, graphic design, and even installation work. It's through-line is Brantley’s dedication to exploring himself -- his work is often biographical and features a younger version of himself. Grounded in the anime and graffiti of his artistic forefathers, Brantley’s work has quickly transcended many of these labels and names. His artistic pieces often relate to one another, creating narrative art that isn’t always associated with “high”art. Brantley himself writes in his artistic statement that his work centers, “around nostalgia, the mental psyche, power, and hope.”This, combined with his pop art tendencies and bright color palettes give his work accessibility that isn’t enjoyed by many of his peers.
How did painter Hebru Brantley get started?
Hebru Brantley was born in 1981 in Bronzeville, Illinois -- a suburb of Chicago. He didn’t discover the art world until he was 16. His mother gave him a book on Jean-Michel Basquiat which connected with the young Brantley. He had already started tagging on the streets of Chicago, but the book helped the young artist develop his own aesthetic. In 1999, Brantley went to Clark Atlanta University to study filmmaking but quickly changed tracks to visual art. He snuck into several art classes at the Art Institute of Atlanta -- which he called a crash course in painting. He developed his style while working at a record company before making his first sale in 2002 to DJ Drama for $800. After that, the young artist never looked back, dedicating his career to his distinct brand of pop-influenced art.
How much are Hebru Brantley paintings worth?
As a young artist, Hebru Brantley’s paintings can be had for as little as several hundred dollars, up to almost $20,000 for his trademark pieces. The most ever paid for a Hebru Brantley painting was $19,170 for the piece Flyboy (2010) which sold on May 20th, 2020. That said, there is a huge untapped potential for much of Brantley’s work. As a young artist, he has shown a dedication to building his brand and has a large following on Instagram thanks to his collaborations with shoe giants Nike and Adidas. This represents a great opportunity for the savvy investor.