Brian Sostrom “The Shadowland”
March 29th – April 27th, 2025
Haven Gallery is honored to present Idaho based artist, Brian Sostrom, for his first show, entitled “The Shadowland”, at the gallery. “ The Shadowland” features fifteen acrylic landscape paintings charged with color, emotion and energy. Sostrom describes this collection as a meditation on the beauty of solitude and darkness. Heavy bands of color and contrast dominate natural scenery, infusing tranquil scenes with energy and emotion. Through Sostrom’s use of shadow on land, earth and sky, one loses themself within the dance and prose of the fleeting clouds, glow of sunrise and gleam of the sunset. Atmospheric worlds, devoid of people pulsate with life and the passage of time, paying homage to an untouched place where the inherit majesty of the natural world, in both light and shadow, flourishes. Artist Statement I invite you to step into The Shadowland, my solo exhibition where I explore the emotional landscapes of psychological isolation, beauty, and dreams. Through my latest paintings, I aim to create a space where light and shadow come together, revealing the delicate tension between solitude and the quiet beauty that resides within. In these paintings, dreams are not just a form of escape, but a way of engaging with the deeper recesses of the self. The Shadowland is not just an exhibition for me; it’s a personal journey I share with you, inviting you to explore the emotional depths of the human experience. In the quietest moments, we often find the most profound beauty. – About Brian Sostrom I grew up in small rural towns in the Pacific Northwest. My father was an engineer for the National Forest Service and we frequently relocated for his work. All of my finest memories revolve around the tranquility of nature and the peace and solitude that I found there. My father has always painted, at least since I’ve been around. I would watch him painting on his homemade easel wishing I could do the same. When I was 9 years old my parents purchased a hobby set of acrylic paints for me and I was never far from them. When I went to college, at Washington State University, I was experimenting with all types of mediums and began learning about computer generated art and design. Digital art, specifically video game art, kept me afloat financially but my passion has always been painting. Acrylics have lured me back with their ever-expanding catalog of new paints and mediums. For the last twenty years I have experimented extensively with many materials in addition to acrylic paints. I paint on a customized smooth substrate with translucent acrylic paints, much like a watercolor artist I rely upon the underlying surface for the lightest elements of my work. I am obsessed with mark making and use knives, squeegees, brushes and custom tools to create unique paint applications. I keep changing the way I work and trying to create art that is not only beautiful but also visually unique. It is a task that is exceedingly difficult but one of the most important mantras I have. I participate in solo shows and group shows throughout the United States.
