Artist Statement

Bryan Hoffman is a self taught artist living in Michigan. While he started drawing at an early age the period that compelled him to paint was 1980 – 2000 while living in New York City. The HIV/Aids epidemic/plague years and his employer and mentor the designer Bill Blass are what shaped, inspired and informed his art and his life during that period. The other seminal time was volunteering at The Ruth Ellis Center for at risk and homeless LGBTQ youth located in Detroit. It was there that he found a theme he continues to cultivate…LGBTQ communities, the marginalized, underrepresented and working people. Bryan works in acrylics on wood panels augmented by graphite, colored pencil and gold leaf. He paints his subjects gazing unsentimental at the viewer without identifying context forcing the viewer to focus on the subject without social cues.