BIOGRAPHY
Brian Tolbert (b. 1985) is a visual artist and illustrator from Pittsburgh, PA, celebrated for his evocative portraiture and surrealist illustrations on cardboard.
Brian’s artistic journey began early, with a five-year scholarship from The Carnegie Museum of Art & Natural History's Art Connection program in fourth grade, where he honed his skills in illustration, painting, sculpting, printmaking, and etching. In high school, he expanded his creative horizons at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild Youth & Arts initiative, incorporating digital mediums into his work and earning accolades at the Pittsburgh Public High Schools All City Arts Showcase. His talents garnered multiple scholarships, including the Eleanor Friedberg Scholarship Award and recognition from the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts in Drawing & Printmaking.
Brian earned a B.S. in Graphic Design from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He then built a diverse professional career in commercial graphic design, consulting, fashion design, and corporate training. Today, he is dedicated to pursuing his passion for fine art full-time.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“I create on cardboard because it's harder to tell Black stories on white paper.”
I’m Brian Tolbert, a multidisciplinary visual artist based in Washington, DC, known for portraiture, self-portraits, and surrealist illustrations on cardboard. I emphasize faces and eyes in my work to capture the essence of subjects.
I produce small-scale, graphite illustrations on cardboard with minimal color. I use strokes/shading to create tangible texture and give each piece volume/dimension. I then rework large scale reproductions on canvas using various mediums to reimagine the original artwork.
My art centers my experiences as a Black man. I incorporate historical, cultural, and social nuances that shaped my understanding of Black identity in America. The rich texture and imperfections of cardboard enhance the Black stories I tell.
Art helps me share my experiences exploring grief, self-worth, shame, trauma, vulnerability, and mortality. I invite viewers to reflect on their own relationship with these themes and find themselves in our shared human experience.