In the spring of 2020, Kendra Brazzel's creative journey began. Having recently moved from California to Tampa, Florida, she found herself facing the onset of Covid-19, which brought life to a standstill. With no job, few connections, and an abundance of free time, Kendra embraced this unexpected pause as an opportunity to reassess her life. It seemed that fate had a hand in guiding her to a new path.
During her early days in Florida, Kendra crossed paths with Seth Benzel, an artist based in Ocala. His passion for abstract art ignited a spark within her, prompting Kendra to pick up a paintbrush and explore her own creativity. Art quickly became her sanctuary. Beginning with acrylics on canvas, she soon began embellishing her paintings with abstract threadwork. This experimentation led her to explore painting on fabric with watercolors and further incorporating thread into her work. Over time, Kendra transitioned this practice to paper and completely fell in love with the results.
Kendra's dedication and talent quickly gained recognition. After winning a "Best in Show" ribbon the first time she entered her art in a gallery show, she was thrilled by the positive reactions to her work and decided to pursue art more seriously. In November 2022, she leased a studio at 8th Ave Gallery, and the following year of exploration and self-discovery paved the way for her acceptance into the Magnolia Art Xchange in September 2023 as an Artist in Residence.
In October 2023, Kendra participated in the Ocala Arts Festival, where she was awarded her second "Best in Show" ribbon in the Emerging Artist category. By April 2024, Kendra had become an officially gallery-represented artist at NOMA Gallery, where her larger works and abstract paper weaves are now available.
Kendra Brazzel's journey has been an incredible one, and she eagerly anticipates what the future holds.
I am a mixed media abstract artist living in Ocala, Florida. I am currently a resident artist at the Magnolia Art Xchange, where I have just had my first solo show. My style is colorful, fluid, and abstract. I enjoy working with liquid watercolors, high flow and acrylic inks, and Bombay inks. My practice is intuitive, and driven by my love of exploration and discovery. Most recently I have been captivated by the idea of transformation, and it is evident in my recent upcycled paper weaves.
StateFL
