Bria Fernandes "Between the Lines"
Bria Fernandes "Between the Lines" 2020
Painting, Oil on Canvas, Framed
Dimensions 12" x 12" in, Framed 13" x 13" in
Unique
Signed on verso, Includes certificate of authenticity
Bria Fernandes is a Canadian-born figurative painter whose work explores the social, cultural, and personal experiences of being a Black woman. Her art delves into themes of identity, vulnerability, and belonging, using silence, omission, and exclusion as tools to depict oppression and introspection. Through symbolic imagery and passive body postures, she captures moments of self-reflection, focusing on marginalized communities' unseen emotions and unspoken truths. Working primarily with oil paint and acrylics, Bria incorporates symbolic objects and animals that reflect her personal and cultural narratives. Her intricate works create emotionally resonant spaces, inviting viewers to share these moments of introspection and fostering dialogue about identity, anxiety, and displacement. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Bria now resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She has completed her BFA at Alberta University of the Arts. Recent Exhibitions include Threads of Kin and Belonging: A Trinipeg Live Mixtape Project, Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq, Winnipeg, MB, 2025. The Feminine Lived Experience, Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre, Medicine Hat, AB, 2025 and Portrait of a Woman, Artsy (online), 2024.
“My work explores my social, cultural, and personal experiences as a Black woman in Canada. It begins with introspection, drawing from real-life moments to illuminate emotions that range from vividly felt to lingering in the subconscious. These reflections highlight how individuals, particularly those from diverse backgrounds, navigate cycles of awareness, where self-doubt, anxiety, and displacement emerge from the specificity of marginalized lived experiences. Omission, silence, and exclusion are central tools in my work, evoking a sense of voicelessness and examining the intersections of personal and collective experience. This piece hints at the unspoken frustrations and contradictions within the routine, exploring the silent struggles of daily life. It aligns with my focus on what is left unsaid, capturing the emotional weight of experiences that are deeply felt yet rarely acknowledged. Through this exploration, my work questions cultural belonging and identity, transforming forms into vessels of shared narratives.”
- Bria Fernandes