In Conversation with Brian Connolly
We’ve been friends and fan’s of Brian Connolly for years, so we were thrilled to interview him about his art practice for Issue Two of our Little Black Book.
There is a dreamlike quality to Brian Connolly’s work. Based on Bundjalung Country in Byron Bay, Connolly creates across painting, murals, ceramics and apparel, with a practice that moves between the mystical, the natural and the deeply introspective. His works are often described as ethereal, flowing and connected to nature, with florals and organic forms acting as symbols of inner growth, transformation and emotional life.
In a home, Brian’s work brings softness without disappearing. It has presence, but not hardness. This is the kind of art that can sit beautifully above a linen sofa, beside vintage timber, layered with sculptural ceramics, woven textures and aged brass. It adds a poetic pause to a room.
Your work feels incredibly expressive and emotive, with such a strong sense of movement and atmosphere. What first drew you to painting, and what continues to inspire your practice today?
Painting has always felt like a language beyond words for me, a way to make sense of the world, process emotion and memory and allowing it to flow through brushstrokes into tangible form. I was initially drawn to its freedom, but over time I’ve realised it is something much deeper, a space where external noise dissolves, allowing me to channel something that feels bigger than me. When I paint, there is a sense of connection, intuition, and surrender that allows me to access something beyond logic. I’m deeply inspired by the mystery of the natural world, by the beauty and intelligence woven through it, and by the quiet feeling that there are realms and energies beyond what we can fully see or understand. What continues to inspire me is that sense of discovery and the endless possibility of translating something internal, intangible, and deeply felt into form.
Has your artistic style or philosophy shifted over the years, or do you feel there’s always been a common thread running through your work?
It has definitely evolved, but I think there has always been a common thread running through it, a sense of wonderment and curiosity. Over time, as I’ve become more attuned to my inner child, I’ve learned to trust simplicity, intuition, and the unknown more deeply. I’ve allowed myself to loosen control, follow curiosity wherever it leads, and let that sense of play and exploration become an integral part of my creative process.
You can read more of this interview with Brian in our Little Black Book.
WIN AN ARTWORK BY BRIAN CONNOLLY
Sunward Becoming
Oil on Canvas,
40 × 50cm, Framed in Oak
Valued at $980