Brian Tolbert Art
The Work

Series

The Art of Vanity

The Art of Vanity is an ongoing series of self-portraits that serves as a record of who I have been, who I am, and who I am becoming. Across more than a decade, these works have captured moments shaped by identity, escapism, depression, grief, and my ongoing relationship with death.

Using surrealist imagery, I make visible experiences that can be difficult to put into words. I hope that sharing my own vulnerability gives viewers room to reflect on their experiences and recognize something of themselves in the work.

Head Above The Clouds, from The Art of Vanity by Brian Tolbert

Featured artwork

Head Above The Clouds

Works in the series

40 items

Head of State

Head of State

Original · Available

Lost in America

Lost in America

Original · Available

Frequently Fly

Frequently Fly

Original · Available

As the World Burns

As the World Burns

Original · Available

Big Bs

Big Bs

Original · Available

Acuna

Acuna

Original · Available

Pensive Moments

Pensive Moments

Original · Available

CCAC

CCAC

Original · Available

Smile, You're Alive

Smile, You're Alive

Original · Available

Depression 2.0

Depression 2.0

Original · Available

Depression 1.0

Depression 1.0

Original · Available

Saudade (The Motherline)

Saudade (The Motherline)

Original · Available

Saudade (The Fatherline)

Saudade (The Fatherline)

Original · Available

The Echo of Presence

The Echo of Presence

Original · Available

The Weight of Absence

The Weight of Absence

Original · Available

OOTD

OOTD

Original · Sold / unavailable

Pieces of Me

Pieces of Me

Original · Sold / unavailable

The Silence is So Loud

The Silence is So Loud

Original · Available

Light Benders

Light Benders

Original · Available

Escaping Awareness

Escaping Awareness

Original · Available

I Got Me

I Got Me

Original · Available

Come Back to Earth

Come Back to Earth

Original · Available

This Life of Sin

This Life of Sin

Original · Available

The Light Was Dim

The Light Was Dim

Original · Available

Who's in control?

Who's in control?

Original · Available

The Rose that Grew from Concrete

The Rose that Grew from Concrete

Original · Available

I Saved Myself

I Saved Myself

Original · Available

Life had me like

Life had me like

Original · Available

A Love Eternal: XOXO from Heaven 3

A Love Eternal: XOXO from Heaven 3

Original · Available

A Love Eternal: XOXO from Heaven 2

A Love Eternal: XOXO from Heaven 2

Original · Available

A Love Eternal: XOXO from Heaven 1

A Love Eternal: XOXO from Heaven 1

Original · Sold / unavailable

School Boy B

School Boy B

Original · Available

I Owe It To Myself

I Owe It To Myself

Original · Available

A Prisoner in my own mind

A Prisoner in my own mind

Original · Available

Live from our current dystopian future

Live from our current dystopian future

Original · Available

A Way Out of My Head

A Way Out of My Head

Original · Available

Head Above The Clouds

Head Above The Clouds

Original · Available

Halloween SZN

Halloween SZN

Original · Available

Sick & Tired of the Photoshop

Sick & Tired of the Photoshop

Original · Available

Hear no, See no, Speak no bullshit

Hear no, See no, Speak no bullshit

Original · Available