Artist Statement
Clyfford Still was a monumental influence on the abstract painters at the San Francisco Art Institute, where he taught from 1946 to 1950. His legacy was carried forward by his students, two of whom became my own instructors at SFAI.
In this sense, my work exists within the direct lineage of Still’s aesthetic philosophy.
The title of this exhibition, Eat Paint, originates from a work I completed in 1972 while a student at SFAI. Many of the foundational elements from my early student work remain present in the paintings on display in this exhibit.
I was deeply inspired by the presentation of Clyfford Still’s work at his namesake museum in Denver. There, each painting is exhibited with enough space to allow the viewer to contemplate the work without distraction or interference. Most of the paintings in this exhibition were created in 2025 specifically with this accommodating, open environment in mind.
My process begins with an unsaturated canvas on the floor. The canvas then becomes saturated with large quantities of water and pigment. This allows the paint to flow freely, though it is continuously directed. During this fluid stage, I view my role much like that of an orchestra conductor, guiding the elements toward a cohesive harmony. Once the canvas is dry, it is moved to the wall, where I apply additional forms to enhance the final composition.
While viewers often interpret these works as landscapes, they are not intended to represent objective imagery. However, living in New Mexico and traveling throughout the West, the horizon line remains a profound visual influence. It is this environmental essence, rather than a literal place, that informs the work.
Brian McPartlon was born in Schenectady, New York in 1948. He attended the School of Visual Arts in New York; studying drawing, painting and sculpture in a traditional studio setting, all the while exploring art museums and galleries, hungry for art without confinement. He “hung out” at famed counterculture places, associated with influential artists and activists and participated in Vietnam War protests. These events brought a connection to a world that he felt was his to encompass and portray in a manner unlike any he had learned in school. McPartlon then moved to California to attend the San Francisco Art Institute.
Upon graduation in 1973, McPartlon rented studio space in San Francisco and began selling his work. In 1978, McPartlon also began using his studio to build movie sets, and was Art Director and Property Master for various films through 1986.
In Santa Fe for the past 40 years, he has supported the arts – as a fundraiser, curator, and exhibit producer. His work was recently selected for The Art in Architecture Program: U.S. General Services Administration National Artist Registry, Washington, D.C.
Recent and upcoming exhibits include International Art Museum of America, San Francisco, CA (solo); Kenosha Public Museum, Kenosha, WI; Pie Projects, Santa Fe, NM; and CINQ Gallery, Dallas, TX. Recent press includes LandEscape Art Review, London, UK; Magazine 43/Berlin, Hong Kong, Manila; ART UP MI, Milan; Southwest Contemporary; Artwork Gallery Magazine, Kyiv, UKR; MVIBE Magazine, Athens; Silk Road Review; Gemini Magazine; Modern Renaissance Magazine; The Woven Tale Press; New Mexico Bar Bulletin (cover); Unique Homes/The High End; Forget Me Not Press; Superpresent Magazine; Blue Mesa Review; Pasatiempo/Santa Fe New Mexican; Another Chicago Magazine; Arkana Literary Review; Dream Noir; and The Uncoiled.
He is represented by Pie Projects, Santa Fe, NM; CINQ Gallery, Dallas, TX; and Fresh Paint Art Consultants, Los Angeles, CA.
On exhibit at Sahara West Library from May 15, 2026 through August 1, 2026
Gallery reception on Thursday, May 21, 2026 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Tuesday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Wednesday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Thursday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Friday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Saturday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Sunday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
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