Brent Godfrey uses the painting process to translate objects, figures and landscapes into physical metaphor. Combining varying degrees of abstraction and representation, he explores identity and memory, interpersonal relationships, societal structures and global connections. Godfrey is unique as a mid-career painter in that he continues to work both abstractly and representationally. One of the most frequent comments heard from people standing in front of an abstract painting is "I don’t understand abstract art." This often leads to an urge to dismiss it.
Join Brent Godfrey at the Kimball Art Center for a free Art Talk on Thursday, Sept. 23, from 6 to 7 p.m. as he discusses "Abstraction and Reality: Exploring & Expressing Events, Thoughts & Emotions."
Godfrey will show and discuss how representational painting can transform into abstraction and why artists may choose this direction. "My goal," he says, "is to help demystify abstraction and help people feel more comfortable with non-representational painting." There will be a question/answer period after the talk for people who would like to learn more about his work.
Brent was raised in Roy, Utah — a conservative, suburban community sandwiched between farmland and a military base. His upbringing was intensely religious and highly conventional. An intense need to explore, question, observe and explicate resulted in an evolution away from childhood dogmas and established mental exercises that form the base of his work. He has been a professional painter for over 25 years, exhibiting nationally and abroad. His work is in public & private collections throughout the United States. He graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Weber State University, received a Master of Education from Brigham Young University, then continued painting studies in Italy, Taos, New Mexico, and at the University of Utah.
Experience Brent Godfrey’s exhibit, "Getting Real, Visual Expressions of Personal Perceptions," at the Kimball Art Center’s Badami Gallery through Sept. 26.