Hebru Brantley, being a Chicago native, has allowed the city to infinitely affect his life and his work. Drawing from the urban culture and historical aspects that have solidified Chicago as a major creative center, Brantley uses the city as inspiration, subject and canvas. The artist believes that in no other city other would the separate forces of Asian-inspired art, comic book characters, race relations, television pop culture icons, and street art collide to produce a unified portfolio of work than this city of his birth: Chicago.

Hebru Brantley uses his interests, being as diverse as the individuals that compose the neighborhoods of Chicago, to translate his artistic vision. This ability to draw while pulling inspiration from a wide range of audiences, further lends to the true spirit of Chicago’s diversity. The Chicago population serves as inspiration and mouthpiece for the artist’s vision. When viewing Brantley’s work, people from very distinct areas and subcultures of the city can find a commonality to begin a discussion that may otherwise would have never occurred.

Chicago also serves as a part of the actual composition in many of Hebru’s pieces. Feeling that street art is equally as important, and exponentially more accessible to many more people, as high art. Brantley began his career when he set out to beautify the urban landscape in Chicago. While some view graffiti-style arts with contempt and nuisance, Brantley’s works transform the areas they occupy. The dynamic, large scale pieces turn a blank wall, a vacant store side, or a commissioned doorway into a living, breathing work of art that leaves an imprint on all that pass while acting as a timestamp in the rich history that is Chicago art.

Hebru Brantley’s show “Crown of the Metropolis” examines the proverbial princes and princesses of the city and how living the “city life” adversely affects their quality of living and being. Each piece shown in the gallery will correspond with a permission piece outside of the gallery. This idea of the city as a canvas allows the audience to view that which is primarily looked upon as defamation of property as high art instead.

Gallery opening Friday, October 1st 6-10 PM. Show runs through November 30th.

“Crown of the Metropolis” is a part of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs’ Chicago Artist Month 2010. Please visit www.chicagoartistmonth.org for more information.