Hello. I’m T.J. Brown, an acrylic painter, charcoal artist, and a thoroughly mediocre bowler.

Lately, I’ve been thoroughly exploring both grief and identity – subjects that are widely universal while being extremely personal. My most recent solo exhibition, ‘The Quiet Part, Out Loud’, investigates the grieving process through the lens of grief’s isolating qualities, it’s effects on memory, and the manifestation of grief on the physical body.

My newest project, ‘Anybody But Myself’, sets out to explore the uncomfortable nature of being oneself – the masks we wear, the histories we hide, the aspects of ourselves that make us wish we had anyone else’s identity but our own.

Ongoing explorations include employing harsh contrasts of light and shadow in my charcoal works, conveying tension between the viewer and the space – borrowing from film noir and the technique of chiaroscuro. Additionally, an interest in destabilizing common, mundane spaces themselves – combining abstraction and realism to add ambiguity to what was a clear picture just a moment before.

Currently based out of Ajax, Ontario, I have been practicing professionally since 2015. As a toddler, I picked up a permanent marker and scribbled all over my parents’ apartment. I’ve been creating ever since, but I’ve traded in the permanent marker for charcoal, acrylics and the occasional oil.

Word is still out on whether or not I’ve improved since then.