Brian Bosworth

“I aim to create intimate sculptural experiences that suspend the viewer between perception and devotion.”

BIOGRAPHY

Brian Bosworth is a sculptor and ceramicist working under the name BKB Ceramics. His work explores the boundary between the built environment and nature, merging the raw intensity of brutalist and minimalist design with the transient qualities of natural settings. Based in Joshua Tree, California, and Oklahoma City, he has been working professionally since 2002, exhibiting his pieces nationally and internationally, with artworks in private collections throughout the U.S. and abroad. Bosworth earned a B.A. from CSU Bakersfield and an M.F.A. from Claremont Graduate University. He previously ran a successful retail and gallery space in Joshua Tree and Palm Springs. Now, he balances his studio work with teaching at The Studio School and Deer Creek High School, encouraging dialogue among material, form, and meaning. He describes his work as “a continuous exploration of the spaces that exist between the tangible and the ephemeral…where the viewer is invited to contemplate the in-between.”

ARTIST INSIGHTS

How are your background and life experiences connected to your art?

My art is deeply rooted in the environments and experiences that have shaped me. Growing up around the desert, I was drawn to its stillness, open space, and the quiet strength of its landscape. The colors, textures, and light of that environment continue to guide my work, grounding me in a sense of place.

Who are some of your biggest artistic influences?

My influences have changed over time, but I always come back to Peter Voulkos and brutalism.

How have you developed your artist career?

I have developed my art career through a combination of education, personal exploration, and consistent studio practice. My early interest in art grew from observing the landscapes and architecture around me, which eventually guided me toward ceramics as a way to merge design, structure, and organic form.

What does your artistic work intend to communicate to its audience?

I want my art to resonate with the viewer by questioning their visual experience.

Does your work comment on any current social or political issues?

My current work is dealing with perception, while not overtly political, perception is key to how we move through the current times.

What is one thing you would like your audience to know about you?

That I love the creative process and enjoy the “play” of art most.

Which current art world trends are you following?

I’m not following any current trends in art directly, but I find myself more influenced by design, whether home or furniture.

Why have you chosen to sell your work in the 1515 Lincoln Gallery?

1515 Gallery has a reputation for showing great work and respects the artists and their visions. It feels more like personal relationships with artists rather than a sales platform.

ARTIST STATEMENT

As an artist deeply rooted in the rich cultural landscapes of the California desert, my work in ceramics and sculpture is a continuous exploration of the spaces that exist between the tangible and the ephemeral. Drawing inspiration from mid-century design and architecture, brutalism, minimalism, and the intricate beauty of nature, I seek to create pieces that evoke a sense of liminality, where the viewer is invited to contemplate the in-between.

My work is characterized by its simplicity and raw brutality, reflecting the stark and often austere language of brutalist architecture. This influence is balanced by a minimalist aesthetic that emphasizes purity of form and material. I am fascinated by the psychological interplay between the viewer and the object, and how my creations can serve as catalysts for introspection and dialogue.

In my practice, I strive to capture the essence of transition and the subtle nuances that define our experience of space and time. Each piece is an invitation to pause and consider the overlooked, the transient, and the marginal. Through the medium of ceramics and sculpture, I aim to bridge the gap between art and architecture, crafting works that resonate with both the personal and the universal. I hope that my art will inspire others to see the beauty in simplicity and the profound depth in what lies between.

“As an artist deeply rooted in the rich cultural landscapes of the California desert, my work in ceramics and sculpture is a continuous exploration of the spaces that exist between the tangible and the ephemeral.”