Andrea Brewster – Field Notes

Artists’ Reception: Saturday, May 18, 3 – 5 pm
Oakland Art Murmur / First Friday: June 7, 5 – 9 pm
Gallery Hours: Fri + Sat, 12 – 5 pm (and by appointment)

Over the past few decades, digital tools have evolved to create visually captivating renditions of reality; this trend being driven most recently by the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology. In her latest digital collages, “Field Notes,” Andrea Brewster utilizes these tools to diverge from this glossy portrayal of reality. By blending scientific imagery with expressionistic elements, she aims to uncover a deeper essence; challenging the certainty of our sensory perceptions and delving into the core of what makes us human. Brewster’s artwork references scientific botanicals and field notes, featuring illegible scrawl, energetic bursts of line, random fragments of color, and enigmatic photographs. These idiosyncratic bits and fragments prompt the viewer to examine whether the conventional way we understand the world—through sensory input and the brain’s processing—is limited. In these works, Brewster asks the viewer to confront the possibility of something mysterious and boundless, evading the grasp of our senses, and awaiting further discovery.

Image: Andrea Brewster, Field Notes 4, 2024, digital collage 18″ x 24″, photo courtesy of the artist