It moved! That is what I said to myself while surveying the artwork of Bryan Collier, a local born, award winning illustrator whose paintings are currently on display at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Mosely Gallery. “Purpose and Promise”, the art of Bryan Collier’s exhibition, is the gallery’s Black History Month showcasing of the award winning collages, illustrations, and paintings, and of the award winning book illustrator and painter. The complexity of his works lie not in the brushstrokes of his well guided hand, but in the intricacies of doing a collage that maintains straight lines while having varying colors that coordinate from level to level. His illustrations in his books are collages as well, but you don’t get a feel for how intricate the details really are. I was particularly impressed with his paintings of the legendary singer, Marvin Gaye, and the boxer, Muhammad Ali. His paintings showed his talent for painting on a canvas because both were done in oil paint, both used great techniques of lighting, and both accurately portrayed each of his subjects.

Mosely Gallery, UMES
Art & Technology Center
11931 Art Shell Plaza
Princess Anne, MD 21853
www.umes.edu/arts

By Devin Morris