We had the good fortune of connecting with Patricia Brett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Patricia, what are you inspired by?
I’m inspired by ground-breaking women artists who pushed the boundaries of what defines sculpture, painting, or printmaking; women who worked across these mediums and created works that defied one particular category. Artists like Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse, and Louise Nevelson. Hesse is really one of the first artists who left the plane of the painting with her work and Nevelson’s relief sculptures still continue to amaze me.

Most recently I’ve been inspired by the work of Sheila Hicks, having just seen her retrospective at the Hepworth Wakefield in England. Known for her innovative and experimental weavings (although the exhibit included some of her stunning photographs) Hicks creates these incredible textiles that are more like relief sculptures. She does things with yarn that you couldn’t imagine!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I had a long career as an architect, then I spent several years designing swimwear for breast cancer survivors. So it took a while for me to get to the point where I could dedicate myself to making art full-time.

Now I’m a bit like a kid in a candy store! I’m working in stone, in plaster, making prints, painting in ink. I think I’m making up for lost time and really exploring all these different materials and techniques.

Lesson learned: it’s never too late to do what you really want to do! I’ve wanted to be an artist since I was about five, it just took me a while to get here.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite memory of Miami includes having drinks in the incredible lobby of the Delano Hotel in South Beach. And sitting around the super cool pool there!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I studied painting, printmaking, and sculpture at the Art Students League of New York from 2016-2020. While I was there I was fortunate to study under some amazing women artists: Francine Tint, Lucy Fradkin, Kamila Talbot, Sylvie Covey, and Elizabeth Allison. I learned so much from each of them and consider some of them as friends and mentors now. I hope to pay it forward by the teaching I am now doing here in Cleveland at the Morgan Paper Conservatory and Zygote Press.

Website: www.patriciabrett.com

Instagram: @patricia.brett

Image Credits
Thomas Butcher Harry Brett-Butcher Etienne Frossard Brittany Hudak

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.