Important Dates:

  • Installation Period: Jan 13–26 

  • Opening Reception: Friday, January 31, 2:30–4:00 PM

  • Exhibit Closing: March 21 

  • De-installation: Between March 22- April 14

  1. Exhibition title:

    (In)Sights: the Eye Sees The I

    Brenno Kenji + quinn mcnichol

2. Exhibition Description:

(In)Sights: the Eye Sees The I showcases the diverse works of Brenno Kenji and quinn mcnichol, the two newest faculty members of the Edmonds College Art Department. Through a compelling juxtaposition of their distinct artistic practices, the show invites viewers into a dialogue that spans multiple perspectives and approaches. Their works, ranging from life drawings to paintings and mixed-media installations, create a rich tapestry of ideas, forming a dynamic, multi-layered conversation about identity, perception, insight, and creativity.

3. Artist's Bio (Brenno)

Brenno Kenji (b. 1981) is an artist, educator, and scholar whose work bridges the disciplines of literature, philosophy, and visual art. Born in Brazil, he earned a Law degree at UFPE before moving to the United States to pursue advanced studies in the humanities. He holds a Ph.D. in Literature from UC Berkeley with a Designated Emphasis in Critical Theory. Brenno taught literature and philosophy at the University of Southern California (2014–2021) and drawing and painting at Loyola Marymount University (2020–2022). After relocating to Washington in 2022, he began teaching at Gage Academy in Seattle, and joined the faculty of Edmonds College in 2024.

Alongside his academic work, Brenno trained with renowned mentors such as Sunny Apinchapong-Yang, Steve Huston, and Mian Situ, who helped shape his approach to painting as an inherently dialogical activity: a discipline deeply intertwined with other forms of expression.

4. Artist Statement (Brenno)

My approach to art is grounded in curiosity, experimentation, and discovery—principles that guide not only my creative practice but also my broader intellectual pursuits. Painting is an intuitive, intellectual, and creative process for me, one that reflects my interdisciplinary background in literature, art, and philosophy.

A painting, much like a novel or a system of thought, is a dynamic constellation of elements—color, value, and shape—interacting in meaningful ways.  No element exists in isolation; there's no part without a whole, and no whole without the parts that constitute it. This delicate balancing act mirrors the dynamics of the world we inhabit. Like literature and philosophy, art is a way to apprehend, articulate, and express both the world around us and our place within it.

The works I selected for this exhibition occupy a unique intersection within this network of relationships. Originally created as teaching demonstrations, each piece encapsulates a specific time and space—the spacetime of learning and teaching. These works weave together a succession of moments and a plurality of perspectives: the artist meeting the subject, the teacher engaging with the student, and the shared encounter between subject and artist, the now of intersubjectivity crystallized within an image that unfolds across time.

5. Artworks (Brenno) - exact number of works TBD after quinn chooses/installs their works:

  • Figurations Series (multi-figure life drawing compositions). Title format: Figurations #1 (model's name), Figurations #2 (name), Figurations #3 (name). Size and medium: 18”x24”, chalk on paper

    • Figurations #1 (Dan) - 18”x24”, chalk on paper

    • Figurations #2 (Temple) - 18”x24”, chalk on paper

    • Figurations #3 (Thomas) - 18”x24”, pastel on paper

    • Figurations #4 (Allen) - 18”x24”, chalk on paper

  • Reverie Series (portraits from life in oil). Title format: Reverie #1 (model's name), Reverie #2, Reverie #2 . Size and medium: various dimensions, oil on panel.

    • Reverie #1 (Vanna) - 11”x14”, oil on panel

    • Reverie#2 (Suko) - 16”x20”, oil on panel

    • Reverie #3 (JJ) - 11x14”, oil on panel

  • Sightscape Series (landscapes done on location). Title format: Sightscape #1 (location), Sightscape #2, Sightscape #3. Size and medium: various dimensions, oil on panel)

    • Sightscape #1 (winter) - 16x20, oil on panel

    • Sightscape #2 (Shipyard) - ?

    • Sightscape #3 - ?

  • Studies Series (interpretations of master works).

    • Studies #1

    • Studies #2

6. Selected images of artworks in the exhibit (Brenno) - click link below to open images:

7. Content for artwork labels (number of works in exhibition may vary) (Brenno):

  1. Title: Figurations #1 (Dan). 18x24”, chalk on paper.

  2. Title: Figurations #2 (Temple). 18 x24”, chalk on paper.

  3. Title: Figurations #3 (Thomas). 18 x 24”, pastel on paper.

  4. Title: Figurations #4 (Nikita). 18x 24”, chalk on paper.

  5. Title: Figurations #5 (Allen). 18 x 24”, chalk on paper.

  6. Title: Figurations #6 (Dan). 18x24”, chalk on paper.

  7. Title: Figurations #7 (Temple). 18x24”, chalk on paper.

  8. Title: Figurations #8 (Shawna). 18x24”, chalk on paper.

  9. Title: Figurations #9 (Allen). 18x24”, chalk on paper.

  10. Title: Reverie #1 (Vanna). 11 x 14”, oil on panel.

  11. Title: Reverie #2 (Suko). 16 x 20”, oil on panel.

  12. Title: Reverie #3 (JJ). 11 x 14”, oil on panel.

  13. Title: Reverie #4 (Scott). 11 x 14”, oil on panel.

  14. Title: Sightscape #1 (winter). 16 x 20”, oil on panel.

  15. Studies #1. 24 x 36”, oil on canvas.

  16. Studies $2. 24 x 36”, oil on canvas.

8. Mailing List for Postcards:

  • 30-50 postcards (I can mail/deliver them myself) - Brenno

9. Dates and Times for Artists talk and demo

  • Brenno's demo: if evening, February 27th (Thursday); if afternoon (if similar time as opening), February 28th (Friday)

  • quinn's talk - March 14th (quinn: “My parents will be in town! Same time as the opening would work great”)