Lorraine Brennan is a contemporary figurative painter residing in Atlanta, Georgia. Growing up in New York then Mississippi within a large family of 9 siblings, from an early age she used art to explore the complex interrelationships between the human figure and the emotional human experience.
Lorraine creates figurative oil paintings, exploring movements, expressions, spaces, and colors. Sensuality and intimacy are major theme in Lorraine’s work, featuring the contours and curves of the human form. She celebrates the everyday moments of human experience—whether riding, swimming, lounging or getting ready for an evening out.
One distinctive element of her paintings is the use of intricate pressings, a technique she developed in printmaking and then to canvas. The pressings give her figures subtle patterns and designs, as applied to their skin and surrounding spaces, drawing the viewer’s attention to the timeless beauty of human skin, it’s textures and tones, with all of it’s humanly unique flaws and imperfections.
A resident of Atlanta since 1999, Lorraine’s work celebrates Atlanta from everyday street scenes to the implied social and political struggles as expressed through body language and facial expressions. Many of her works explore the boundaries between public and private spaces such as car interiors and porches, providing viewers with an intimate glimpse into the beauty of everyday life. Her subject matter transcends age and gender.
Lorraine holds a BFA from Mississippi State University and 2 MFA degrees in painting and printmaking from Clemson University. She has won several juried awards, including two recent international awards. Lorraine Brennan is a globally significant artist as her work reaches new audiences and resonates with people around the world.
My paintings are modern genre’ scenes of everyday life experiences. I count on the fact that we have universal emotions and experiences. I hope for connections, remembrances, inspiration, and de’ja’ vu, for the viewer.
The Riding Series is about being free: A metaphor for traveling through life. We ride out, flying down the the highway of life, lost in our thoughts, on the way to our next experience.
The Underwater Series is about freedom as well. It has religious overtones. To float, you must let go, release tension, and have faith.
The Girls Getting Ready series reflects my admiration for strong woman. I also like to emphasize these woman enjoying their OWN beauty. Focusing on the modern, natural woman as a power house wearing many hats in this modern world. It is the journey that has defined the work.
655 Elbert St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30310
404.753.8136
lorrainebrennan970@yahoo.com