There are simple beautiful moments happening all around us every day that we often miss. And when we miss these little moments we miss the chance to bring their emotional impact into our work. If we can get past the flatness of our work and reveal what we feel, audiences may find a deeper connection to our work. And we may find another gear to our storytelling voices. This workshop is designed to help you discover those emotional stories around you and in your heart regardless of how awkward, uncomfortable or embarrassing they might be. You'll learn ways to connect with these simple moments, and translate them into the work you do and your daily professional practice. We may cry a little, we'll definitely laugh a lot, and we'll leave with some tools to find all the feels in our lives and our audience.
Brian Rea
Stockholm-based artist Brian Rea gained widespread recognition for his minimalistic yet emotionally charged illustrations in The New York Times column “Modern Love”. His creative reach extends to books, magazines, fashion, film, and public installations. Some of his distinguished clients include Apple, Marni, BMW, Penguin Books, The New Yorker, Variety, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Herman Miller, Vanity Fair, Warby Parker, and Google. His drawings and paintings have been exhibited in Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Barcelona, notably at the Fundació Joan Miró. His most recent solo exhibition titled, "LOVE STORIES," in Seoul was a survey of nearly 200 works spanning 13 years. In addition to his illustrious career as an illustrator and artist, Rea holds the position of Adjunct Associate Professor at Art Center College of Design and is a distinguished member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale. His first authored work, “Death Wins a Goldfish” (Chronicle Books), was nominated for an Eisner Award and secured a television option. His most recent book, Fixing Flamingos, a collaborative effort with Lucienne Brown was published in the autumn of 2023. He currently lives in Sweden with his wife and two sons eating lots of baked goods.