For years, audiences have known Adrien Brody as the intense, Oscar-winning actor, a master of his craft who disappears into complex roles. But a recent art exhibition in New York City and a staggering auction sale in Cannes are forcing the world to acknowledge a different side of the multi-hyphenate talent: a burgeoning, provocative visual artist whose work is commanding significant attention – and even higher prices.
Last week in Cannes, Brody’s graphic and fragmented depiction of Marilyn Monroe fetched a stunning $425,000 at auction. While some “unemployed X users” (as one columnist playfully put it) may have “meme’d, mocked, and ridiculed” the piece, the substantial sale price underscores a growing segment of the art market embracing what has been dubbed “Red Chip art” – a style characterised by its bold, often pop-culture-influenced aesthetic, akin to works by KAWS and Banksy.
The very question of “who’s laughing now?” hung in the air as interviewmagazine.com’s Emily Sandstrom braved the spitting rain and mini red carpet to attend the opening of Brody’s latest show, “Made In America,” at EDEN Gallery uptown. Inside, amidst the rumbling beats of A Tribe Called Quest, the artist delved into the unexpected trajectory of his artistic journey.
Brody, welcoming congratulations on his recent success, explained that his art stems from a deeply personal, internal dialogue. “It’s been a processing of all of the influences that we have in our culture and of the many influences that I’ve had growing up as a New Yorker living in Queens and being the son of an artist,” he shared.
His work, he explained, is an “unpeeling of the layers” and a reflection on how urban life, music culture, and personal experiences have shaped him.
When asked about artistic influences, Brody was quick to distinguish inspiration from derivation. While he finds “inspiration in greatness,” he strives for originality. He spoke passionately about a Basquiat-inspired piece, which incorporates a photograph taken by his mother, a photographer, during an assignment with the legendary artist. This collaboration, he noted, provided an “opportunity for my mother, who’s my greatest influence and inspiration as an artist, to inform my work.” It also allowed him to weave in his reflections on Basquiat’s “demise… from an overabundance of creativity.”
Brody revealed that painting has long predated his acting career, a constant creative outlet since childhood. In fact, there were years he “was pretty much putting down acting and looking to paint primarily.” He cherishes the “creative autonomy and freedom in creating tangible, visual art,” a stark contrast to the collaborative, often reinterpreted nature of filmmaking.
He acknowledged the public’s tendency to “compartmentalize things and people,” a phenomenon he’s encountered since first exhibiting publicly in 2015. “I understand why people like to compartmentalize things and people, right?” he mused. Yet, he believes his work is “pure and from me,” urging viewers to shed preconceived notions and engage with the art itself, which often references societal influences, ubiquitous imagery, and mass media.
The current exhibition, Brody explained, is an evolution of earlier themes explored in a show titled “Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, and Handguns.” It delves into a more “textural layer,” speaking to the “New York that I grew up around,” and finding beauty in “degraded and imperfect” elements.
Brody also revealed another layer to his artistic expression: he will be performing a “soundscape” he created, a compilation of years of his beats, drawing inspiration from old advertisements and the “cacophony of the city.” This auditory work, like his painting, is a “similar layering process that I apply towards all my work, whether it’s acting or making music or painting. It’s kind of an unpacking of things.”
As for the collectors of his art, Brody states he has a “number of serious collectors,” and while he can’t entirely detach from public perception, he firmly believes the driving force behind their acquisitions is not simply fandom. “The work is really pure and from me,” he concluded, emphasizing that his art stands on its own merits, inviting viewers to see beyond the celebrity and engage with the profound, layered narratives he creates.
•Featured image by Emily Sandstrom
