Written by Angie Fenton
The Voice Tribune
If you Google “contemporary art” and “Louisville,” in .20 seconds, you’ll see a list of 463,000 search results – with Bryce Hudson at the top of the lineup.
The 31-year-old artist’s work hangs in private and public collections around the world, including the “Kentucky Gentleman” series, which was purchased by Brown-Forman. The print collection is a fascinating exploration of Hudson’s personal struggles as a multiracial being. With the expert assistance of makeup and wardrobe professionals from Actors Theatre, he transformed his ethnicity over and over again – morphing from white to black, Hispanic to Asian – without the use of prosthetics.
Hudson was adopted by a black family as a baby and grew up in an all-white neighborhood.
“I never, ever fit in. I was kind of always going between everything,” he said.
The difficulty of feeling as though he belonged nowhere soon grew into the realization that he could go everywhere. Instead of slipping between groups of people, he became a connector and attracted a diverse, eclectic pool of friends.
“It was like a United Colors of Benetton ad every time I sat down,” he said with a laugh. “I wouldn’t have asked for any other way to grow up. I can live in the Highlands, but have a studio in Portland and be very comfortable with both.”
Hudson will display his newest work at The Green Building Gallery beginning Friday, Aug. 6. The exhibition features the three series The Beauties, The Equinoxes (Equilibrium Deco) and The Holding Pattern.
“When I started painting 10 years ago, I was just in my basement,” Hudson said.
Then, word got out, and things began to happen and quickly. His first show, at the age of 19, was at the Speed Art Museum. Since then he’s been exhibited in nearly two dozen museums and galleries, from here to Beijing, published two books and makes a living via his art.
Pragmatic about the success, Hudson admitted he’s been dedicated for the better part of “one-third of my life,” but he’s just as humbly awed by the response and accolades his art has evoked.
“All of this because I just kept painting, people recognized my committment and it’s worked.”
Q&A Bryce Hudson
Favorite music: Jazz or some sort of house music with jazz infusion. When I’m working, I like something not too fast-paced, not too slow. Jill Scott? Perfect.
Favorite Web sites: current.com, vimeo.com, stuffwhitepeoplelike.com.
Favorite book: Mostly, I just read art and architecture design books. I’m never the one to sit down with a novel. I don’t have to have pictures, but I love pictures. Everything is visual.
Last meal: It’s going to include a whole bunch of champagnes and finish off with a selection of sorbets and ice cream. I love ginger ice cream and green tea ice cream. It’ll involve lobster meat and pasta, probably cooked in a Moroccan tagine (a ceramic piece of cookware). Oh, and lots of blue cheese.
Four-legged friends: Blue-eyed Siamese named Felix, 10; “my heart” Falcor, 6, a mini schnauzer; and “my soul,” Fritz, 6, a mini schnauzer.
Obsession: Design and Composition
Hotspots: I like to go Goss Avenue Antique Mall, Flame Run, Falls of the Ohio and Barbara’s Florist. She always has at least 100 orchids.
For the sake of art: Go to the Speed Art Museum and get your fill on gorgeous pieces. 21c Museum Hotel definitely. For glass art, Glassworks or Flame Run.
My friends would say: “There’s an element of crazy in there somewhere, but he’s the best friend you could ever have.” And I’m genuine.
