Les Braze

Artist Biography:

After concluding a professional creative career in the special events industry, I began looking for an opportunity to utilize the influences, ideas and inspiration that I stored away for someday. While cleaning the garage I dropped a full length mirror, alas seven years bad luck.  Musing over the random pattern of the shattered mirror I began to consider the possibilities, and so inspiration found expression.

Through experimentation with starts and some catastrophes, I developed my method and materials, and began to create pieces. After I had accumulated a number of pieces, my wife persuaded me that I should show my work publically. After much prompting I entered two pieces into a local show and happily, both were purchased. Katie Gingrass, an influential long term Milwaukee gallery owner judged the show and encouraged me to continue my work. In 2015 Mrs. Gingrass invited me to exhibit my works at her gallery and featured me in her Upcoming Artist review for 2015. I have exhibited and sold works in The Katie Gingrass gallery until her recent retirement. I have recently placed my works in the Gallery of Wisconsin Art in West Bend, WI, having the honor of the first sale for the gallery.  

Artist Statement:

I have always been fascinated with diffusion of light and prismatic effects of glass. Through the use of mirrors and/or window sashes I found the “canvas” for my repurposed materials. Using a glass surface as my canvas allows light to stream through and across the many surfaces within a composition. Any one piece will take on altered look depending on the light source and intensity, providing daily changes in emphasis and color intensity.  My works often contain raw edges and pointy bits (All are contained within the wood frame.) While I strive to create a beautiful natural composition, I prize an unusual edge or irregular surface and the Illusion of vulnerability those surfaces promise.  I find great joy and delight making my art, but find greater satisfaction when a piece finds its person.  I make no great statement as to the purpose of my art other than I find happiness in turning forgotten or raw materials into a light and color enhancing work that simulates natural settings or entities. Viewers are drawn to my work due to the unusual medium combined with the whimsical and colorful appearance.