b. 1968 -NYC, USA Brand's work follows the ebb and flow of his travels over the years; living in an RV, practicing in Zen Centers across America while exploring Central America. When Kurtis Brand arrived at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala for a 4-month vacation, he couldn't find the art supplies he used to worked with. He was then forced to rethink his practice and began utilizing natural products and local quotidian materials such as plastic and natural twine, natural dyes, raw upcycled canvas which became a medium in itself, painters rags, metal wire, and most of the wood he found was harvested from sustainable forests in the highlands of Guatemala. His current work documents his experiences with the culture and beauty of this amazing country. In the tradition of minimalist artists such as Agnes Martin, Kurtis Brand explores subtlety and repetition to evoke contemplation. Living in Antigua, Guatemala, Brand's strongest influence is his meditation practice and its associated rituals. He holds a BFA in Design from Maryland Institute College of Art and a BFA in Painting from Ohio University.
