Meet Davon Brantley | Fine Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Davon Brantley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Davon, the decisions we make often shape our story in profound ways. What was one of the most difficult decisions you’ve had to make?
The most difficult decision I have ever had to make was whether I wanted to have my career dominant in stagnant behavior/ideals or in growth. This decision may seem easier to make than for it to be difficult but we forget just how comfortable you can get in a position where it doesn’t allow you to challenge yourself or navigate upwards in life. For a very long time , I was okay with creating just for the sake of people liking my artwork. I was obsessed with the validation I got from doing everything just like the artists who were making it in the art world. I had no sense of my own style , direction nor meaning I wanted to have for my work; it was depressing. I would sit in my studio daily , upset with myself because I wanted to create something not only impactful for other but for me. I would forget that I was also important in enjoying my work. So , I sat in my studio and had a talk with myself…I analyzed what I loved , what I did not love and what I could improve upon when it came to my work. It was terrifying because I had to be completely honest with myself and I had to get rid of an ingrained programming that I had with my understanding of what art was. I had to think more about what art can be , how it can look and the difference I could make by allowing the work to speak with me and I with the work itself. That was the most difficult task for me because it allowed me to confront change and allowed me to fail in ways that helped me define my style !

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a Cleveland based artist who implements self-portraiture and psychology within my work. I’m Inspired by the dissociative behaviors that happen as a result of life experiences and the reputation involved with those experiences. I am analyzing not only how these affect you in your childhood but also into your adulthood. The interest in these topics stem from a lot of my own personal experiences through life. Which causes my work to revolve around how these situations affect relationships with family, friends, loves, meditations on life and death, masculinity, sexuality and race. My work often utilizes tropes from the artistic periods in the baroque and renaissance eras, in order to dramatize the experiences happening as if the audience has entered a theatrical play. Through large scaled drawings , paintings and other media , I set the stage for the audience to experience characters of my mind who represent narratives that are often viewed as taboo.

I’m not sure if this sets me a part from others but my work is also completely cathartic. It becomes a way for me to not only analyze these very heavy topics but also allows me to analyze the relationships I have within myself. I explore and create a mental landscape that allows others to get a sense of familiarity because I am not depicted in these pieces in very “Godlike-Masculine” ways , as we have seen in Greek mythology. This mythos I have created portrays me in a very vulnerable light. You get to see what , I as the artist may have conflict with at a confrontational scale.

What I am most proud of is that I was able to find my mark and what I want people to experience in my work. Seeing the growth in each piece, connecting the narratives and symbols that appear, unfolding a “truth” behind the artist. I was never able to really connect with the stories presented in museums fully, they always felt as if they were completely separate from my reality. Not because they utilized fantasy but because I didn’t see myself represented or others like me represented. So, I am proud that my art may challenge those ideals and open it up potentially for people to connect. I’ve been in several galleries and museums that have shown me that people connect with the work and they feel something. Thats the only thing I want. I want people to experience my work and not just view it.

It was not easy being able to get to this point of my work. I had to block out A LOT of negative criticism and keep going head strong! I will always believe in myself when no one else does , thats a mantra I have kept my entire life. If no one thinks I can do it , that just means I will. I got where I am today because I have persevered through my darkest moments and pulled myself out of the darkness. I am also here because the people I surround myself with also help me so much in making sure that I know that I am seen and heard !

What I want people to know about my brand/work is that I want you to feel comfortable about these topics I discuss in my work.I want people to take the time to dive deep into their own psyche , understand who you are and the parts of yourself that make you , you ! These pieces of ourselves to do not have to overcome who we are, we just need to understand their place in how they help us become who we are in the world. If you have trouble with anger , sadness, anxiety… these things are not just a fixed version of you that you have to brood on, they are pieces of you that you need to understand in order to find a true sense of self. Do not try to just lock these emotions away or these thoughts about yourself away. Ask why they are there and what you need to do in order to cope. So I want you to know that my brand is here for you to feel not alone and that there IS a safe place to talk about these things. They do not need to be locked away.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If its a week long trip , we have to see the Cuyahoga Valley National park and go for a little hike haha We’d probably pack a lunch for that though and spend a bit of time there, enjoying nature. Theres several places we could site see and heres the list for that week: Cleveland Museum of Art, Cultural Gardens, Downtown Cle-Mall C, Rock Climbing Center in Shaker, Grog shop (for a local band) , Van Aken District (food and fun entertainment). Food Places: Indian Flame , Kake Cutters (dessert), Ohio City Burrito, Chicago’s home for Chicken & Waffles, Boaz ! Hang out sessions: Playing board games, the Nintendo Switch and the PS4 because Smash Bros and Mortal Kombat deserve their praise lol Theres a lot to do in Cleveland and A LOT of events so I would just recommend looking into whats happening during the time !

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This is lovely because there are so many people in my life that deserve this shoutout and I do not want to leave anyone out ! So , I would say a lot of my peers in the arts, the arts organizations and galleries/ museums that I have worked with have helped me so much by their support and critiques we give each other on our work! The fact that we also share opportunities amongst each other our amazing because it shows that we are establishing a community that wants to see us all prosper in in life ! My collectors are another great aspect of my community because even if they cannot buy the originals or the prints sometimes, they show up to exhibitions , they share promotion for the exhibitions and they are constantly supporting me in ways that I never thought I would have when I was a kid. My wife and my family are great support systems as well , they help me to see everyday that my work and what I am doing has value. They allow me to get out of my artists rut , when I need a pick me up ! My wife especially does this , she is my back bone and she is another component to why I keep going in this career choice !

I honestly can say there are just so many people to thank for their support that it would take forever to list them , so Im going to keep it summarized haha

Website: dbrantleyart.com

Instagram: Davon.Brantley

Image Credits
Kayla Renee took the photograph of me and my wife together! I took the art photos !