Photo by Insta: @byhkern
Kaz Brittenburg
Kaz Brittenburg is a Pennsylvania-born interdisciplinary artist. They received their AA in Fine Arts and an AAS in Computer Generated Animation and Digital Arts from Lehigh Carbon Community College and recently graduated from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania with a B.F.A in Studio Art and a B.F.A. in Animated Arts with a Art History minor.
They worked as studio technicians in the Sculpture and Photo Darkroom Studios at Kutztown and a gallery assistant at the Miller Gallery on campus. Their work draws on the processes of the human body and the mind, representing everyday objects in a way that feels both familiar and new in relation to the human body. Kaz’s work has been displayed in the Pennsylvania State Museum for the “Art of the State” Exhibition 2021 and recently had their own solo exhibiton at the newly established Glass Box Gallery.
Kaz has a unique experience as an artist. They are one of only 1-3% of the population that experiences a condition causing a lack of mental imagery and senses known as Aphantasia. They also have undergone emergency brain surgery on the week of Halloween in 2018. Both of these have recently become of much inspiration and interest to them and their work.
Photo by Insta: @byhkern
About Their Work
“In your mind’s eye…”, “Imagine in your head…”, “Picture this…”. For most people, these words trigger the creation of visual images in their minds, but for some like me, these are empty sentiments as our minds are a vast void of black emptiness. No images when thinking about an object, person, or even memories. As an artist with Aphantasia, the lack of mental imagery, sketches, small-scale models, visual references, experimentation, and exploration are vital processes in my studio practice to visualize the potential of a piece.
Throughout my work, I utilize an array of decaying materials such as rusting metal and old rotten wood relating to the idea of the cyclical nature of life, death, and our world. Rusty pipes act as these intestine-like structures spewing an assortment of obscure fluid-like materials that relate both to the environment and the human body.
Recently, my work has started being informed by a hospitalization experience where I underwent emergency brain surgery. This work reflects on the idea of memory or lack thereof and the experience of my time in the hospital. As memory and Aphantasia are closely related in my experience, these works are influenced by scientific facts and remembered life experiences. My work explores the human perceptions and sensations we experience through the lens of mental phenomena, memory, and the senses.
Kaz 