Transdisciplinary artist Brennan Wojtyla discovered his artistic talents at a young age. “I was really young when I figured out this is what I wanted to do,” said Wojtyla. “I don’t see myself doing anything else.”
The Jacksonville native, who graduated in December 2022 with a degree in graphic design, was named Student Artist-in-Residence at MOCA Jacksonville during the fall and his work will be on display there beginning with a soft opening Friday, January 20 followed by an opening reception Wednesday, Feb. 1 during Art Walk, which also serves as his first solo exhibition. He will be present at both events to answer questions about his work.
He first became aware of the Artist-in-Residence opportunity while taking a sculpture class. Using his graphic design expertise, he prepared a digital portfolio and submitted it for consideration. Once he was notified of his selection for the residency, Wojtyla says he was very excited.
“When I got selected, I was super stoked,” he said. “Now I have funding and space to do bigger pieces.”
Like many artists, Wojtyla says that his work is heavily influenced by his surroundings. Since Jacksonville is an industrial city, he prefers to utilize industrial processes instead of traditional artistic techniques. His work incorporates materials and objects you may find on the side of the road such as pieces of wood, a slab of concrete or a toilet. He decontextualizes these industrial forms and recontextualizes them into fine art pieces using spray paint and other techniques. He prefers to create in this manner because he prefers his artistic expressions to be more work-based instead of artistic-based.
The pieces he’s showcasing at MOCA will coincide with a self-based practice known as “Cathedral of Labor”. The goal is to draw people’s attention to traditional forms and practices of everyday life that go unnoticed by giving them a different appearance. Wojtyla says that he is grateful for the assistance he’s received from the MOCA staff and shares that he’s gained a wealth of knowledge thus far from his residency.
While expressing his excitement to have a dedicated space at MOCA for his work, Wojtyla also shared that he’s hoping to do more residencies in the future, and he also hopes to do more traveling abroad.
When asked how he hopes others interpret his art, he replied, “In a perfect world, I want someone to look at my work and hopefully realize that they can find beauty and inspiration in everyday occurrences and forms.”
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