Today’s episode is with artist and graphic designer, Brandon Breaux. Hailing from Chicago’s South Side, Brandon is one of those rare artists whose body of work  sits comfortably at both the personal and at commercial scale.  If you don’t know Brandon by name, that’s ok because we’re sure you’ve seen his work with brands like Bud Light, Alia Seltzer,  most likely on all 3 of Chance the Rapper Album covers. 

Art entered Brandon’s life at at early age, not as a class elective, but as a way to cope.  You see, mental illness was a conversation had around the house throughout Brandon’s childhood, as his father experienced a severe psychotic break that placed him behind bars, all on the day before Brandon was born. Slightly isolated and shy, Brandon found solace in art, comic book characters to be exact.  And it was in this space of world-building, that Brandon developed his love for characters, fashion, design, and illustration that would later develop into the career he has today. 

Brandon now works with brands all over the country while also focusing on his personal and community-based work.  More than just hanging in his studio, Brandon is always seeking out ways to give back, like a Field Trip project, in which he rented busses to take children to museums who may not have  otherwise had the opportunity. He also lead daily meditations throughout the pandemic, and launched his 28 Days of Greatness portrait series earlier this year to highlight local individuals making massive impact. And an exclusive collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago features design objects with themes that address accessibility, safe spaces and representation.

In this episode, we discuss what it takes to bring a creative idea to fruition, the ghost of mental illness that exist in many families, the power of meditation, and why the design world remains one of the least integrated disciplines.  This is such a vulnerable conversation, and you’ll see quite quickly that Brandon is one who leads with an open heart. If you find this content valuable, would yo leave a review over on Apple podcast? We love hearing from our audience, and definitely shout us out over on instagram @blackimagination… we’ll shout right back.  Now, take a breath, relax, and settle in for this enriching conversation with Graphic Designer and Artist, Brandon Breaux.

Follow Brandon Breaux on Instagram: @bbreaux