Brittany Van Ness lives and works in Los Angeles, California. Her work explores themes of home, belonging, and a sense of place through nature and matriarchal lineage, and is embedded within both personal and generational inherited narratives.
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Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, growing up I dreamed of becoming an artist or an animator one day. But without an understanding of a clear path forward, I opted for the "safe" path, pursued a business degree and entered the workforce. After undergrad, I moved to the Mid-Atlantic, working in the private, corporate, and education sectors trying to find the most palatable fit, and even doubled down on a business degree, pursuing an MBA and graduating in 2020.
It took a global pandemic to shift my perspective and slowly open my aperture. After moving to Los Angeles to accept a role in brand management, I soon embarked on starting my own business, creating a beverage company selling at local farmer's markets and online. In an effort to balance my mental health, and decompress from the often lonely path of entrepreneurship, I began taking visual arts classes locally at Santa Monica College in late 2023. What started as an exercise in emotional health, evolved into a rapid resurgence of love for creating and community.
Today, I am inspired by the creative community I am surrounded by and the terroir under my feet in my adopted home of Los Angeles. I am constantly learning about and exploring different mediums, materials, and techniques in drawing, painting, and sculpture and am grateful to continue to follow my curiosity both locally at Santa Monica College and around the globe in workshops and residencies.
Contact
Brittany.VanNess@gmail.com
