Not that it isnt complicated to part with the work, he acknowledges.
I imagine in the night the characters might jump out of the paintings and start walking around.
Brickel grew up in Gloucestershire, England, in public housing.
The artist William Brickel
His first childhood recollection is of a surreal Punch & Judy puppet show.
His parents separated when he was around 10.
He completed his MA at the Royal Drawing School in London, where his passion for drawing crystallized.
Photo: Karl Puchlik / Courtesy of the Artist and Michael Kohn Gallery
Brickel admires the work ofEdward Burra.
And you dont quite know where you stand in his pictures.
Thats what I want from my paintings, for people to just come to it and experience it.
William Brickel,Bunting
My characters are just that, they are characters, ever-changing yet somewhat the same.
They morph from person to person, never resting on someone in particular, explains Brickel.
Brickel is mostly unconcerned with literal evaluations.
William Brickel,Curtain
But others might see friends; people bring things to the workand thats where I love to leave it.
Without the ambiguousness, it wouldnt be me, and you wouldnt have all those tensions and vibrations.
Does he see the work as queer?
William Brickel,Playing Fair
Its like they dictate themselves.
Im a conduit for those parades of fashion.
The artist frequents these fairs most summers and is drawn to the extraordinary characters he sees there.
William Brickel,Spectator 5
Brickel says that even though he knows when a work is finished, he is often surprised by it.
You add color next to color and youre surprised by it.
You add a line, youll be surprised by it.
Thats the joy of painting, I suppose, he says.
You seek things that are surprising.
Was It Ever Fair is on view at Michael Kohn Gallery through March 2.
