Studio Baklava

Brian Lacey (b. 1988) alias studio_baklava, is an artist and muralist working and living out of Miami, Florida. Drawing inspiration from material choices and the symbolism of memories, his work examines the relationships we have with our environments, and the coinciding implications of these experiences. Some works can be viewed as preludes to others. Within the facets of his practice, reuse and material appropriation and relations to the natural world are intended as a transformation to strengthen dimensionality through layered documentation. Combined with his personal history, this creates a metamorphism from one state to another that defines the resilience and adaptability of human identity within the context of individual, societal, and environmental change.

His mural work and public practice allows for exploration in the development of new techniques and tools, providing the space and attention to focus on the role of nuance and detail. For him, this leads to new innovation and further exploration in his large-scale work. This reiterative process helps to inform, influence and strengthen his public artwork. Stylistic influences he is currently exploring in his mural work are a direct result of methods, techniques, and materials explored within his studio pertaining to the universal nature of geometry relating to both the natural, and artificially created world.

Primarily using aerosol and latex paints applied with standard mass-produced and studio crafted utensils while drawing inspiration from material choices and symbolism of memories, Lacey explores juxtapositions of paint, street posters, and repurposed materials that result in hard-edged geometry, figurative and realistic portrayals, and highly-textural, abstract expressive works.