Brenda Mallory (artist) facts for kids

Brenda Mallory (born 1955) is a talented Native American artist. She creates sculptures and art installations using many different materials. Brenda is also a member of the Cherokee Nation. Her art can be small decorations or very large sculptures. She uses things like handmade papers, cloth, wax, and recycled objects in her work.

About Brenda Mallory

Brenda Mallory was born in 1955 and grew up in Oklahoma. She watched her father make things by binding objects with wires. This inspired her art, especially the way she connects different materials.

She went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). There, she earned a degree in Linguistics and English. Later, she studied General Fine Arts at the Pacific Northwest College of Art.

Her Art Career

Brenda Mallory began showing her art in 2002. She calls herself a "late-bloomer" because she started her art career later in life. Since then, she has had many solo and group art shows. She has also received several grants and residencies, which help artists create new work.

In 1993, Brenda and Karen Paule started a company called GladRags. Brenda got the idea after seeing her daughter's reusable diapers. GladRags makes washable, reusable cloth products. In 2000, Brenda even used extra pieces from these products in her art. She dipped them in wax, which made them easy to shape. She said the wax had a "mysterious quality" that made people wonder what it was. Brenda sold GladRags in 2011.

Brenda has also organized art exhibitions. Sometimes, she teaches modern art and helps other artists.

What Brenda Mallory's Art Means

Brenda Mallory believes art can express feelings that words cannot. She says words are clear, but images let the viewer become part of the meaning. People can connect with art based on their own experiences. This means art can have many deep meanings that are not always clear at first.

Brenda works with many different materials. She often uses natural items to create colorful geometric shapes. She joins these shapes with wires, making abstract and complex pieces. Her father's crafting techniques influenced her work a lot. She is also interested in nature, culture, society, and history. Her art often uses symbols and metaphors. Through her art, she shares her values and makes new discoveries.

Brenda Mallory focuses on two main ideas in her art.

Recurring Chapters in the Book of Inevitable Outcomes

Brenda uses symbols to show her worries about the environment. She also explores how humans and nature interact. Another important topic in her art is supporting people, families, and cultures. She focuses on those who face challenges from outside influences. Overall, Brenda wants to improve conditions for people and nature through her art. She uses her work to draw attention to these issues.

For example, in 2015, Brenda created Recurring Chapters in the Book of Inevitable Outcomes. She made this piece for an exhibition. It features dark, uneven tall shapes that are scattered but joined by wires. Colorful, spike-shaped forms are placed on the floor and walls around them. Brenda was inspired by the history of the Cherokee culture for this artwork. She often felt disconnected from her heritage. Her childhood memories helped her create these installations. The art expresses ideas about disruption, repair, and renewal.

Reclaimed and Reformed

Brenda Mallory is known for using recycled materials in her art. This shows her support for the environment. She also reuses her old artworks and projects to create new ones. The "Reclaimed and Reformed" project came about when Brenda was an artist-in-residence at GLEAN for five months. For this project, she made new artworks mostly from trash found in a local dumpster.

Some pieces from this collection were shown in the Intricate Form exhibition. This show was at the Museum of Art Fort Collins in 2019. The project includes smaller sections of art made from similar materials. For example, Firehose Experiment includes artworks made from old firehoses. Similarly, Reformed Packings features art created from packing materials. Brenda hoped to show her support for nature protection. She also wanted to highlight energy waste through her art and exhibitions.

Exhibitions and Recognition

Brenda Mallory has shown her art in many places. She has had solo shows, where only her work is displayed. She has also been part of double exhibitions with one other artist. And she has participated in group exhibitions with several artists.

Her work is part of permanent collections in museums. These include the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in Oregon and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indiana. This means her art is kept there permanently for people to see.

Brenda has received many awards and grants. These include the Career Opportunity Grant and the Individual Artist Project Grant. These grants help artists fund their projects. She also received fellowships like the Ucross Foundation Fellowship for Native American Visual Artist.

She has also been an artist-in-residence at several places. These residencies give artists time and space to create. Some places include Ucross, Anderson Ranch, and Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts.