Brian Hallas is an innovative abstract/surrealist digital photographer and collagist from Shrewsbury Township, New Jersey, whose artistic adventure has been one of exploration and transformation. An iPhone is his tool of choice to capture and craft painterly hallucinogenic images and collages, where landscapes of the familiar become dreamscapes of survival. Through layering and blending techniques, each piece is a rich convergence of vibrant colors, dynamic shapes, intense textures, and pure invention. Each new work is rooted in his desire to push boundaries by celebrating the interchange between the eye and technology, offering viewers works at the crossroads of two-dimensional art and immersive experience that showcase his versatility and ingenuity in the realm of digital photography.
Brian’s artistic path has been life-long, though anything but linear, his journey through the arts being marked by exploration, creativity, and a steadfast commitment to evolving his own style. He was engaged in the theater for decades, working alongside many—most notably with National Medal of the Arts recipient Ping Chong —as a sound designer and performer. With influences as varied as the planets, including a multitude of artists across a full spectrum of art forms and genres, he subsequently discovered in photography the outlet that aligns best with his need to create a singular art. Over the past decade, Brian has evolved into an award-winning abstract/surrealist photographer and continues to push the boundaries of abstract photography, weaving together elements of nature, technology, and sensory exploration to create art that resonates deeply with viewers the world over.
Statement
As an abstract/surrealist digital photographer, I reimagine my iPhone pictures of flora, people, and terrain to create a collection of dreamlike reflections and collages. Using modern non-AI technology, I improvise with layering and filters to tell stories through collage and to compose super real works of imagined nature. The result is a painterly and often hallucinogenic explosion of color, shape, and texture. Each image invites one to explore a universe that transcends the ordinary.
On a journey rooted in the scenery of my everyday life, I use a combination of apps on my iPhone to venture into where technology and nature intertwine to form an otherworldly tapestry. My photographs are taken wherever I find myself—from my workplace in a local retail nursery to nearby shorelines, parks, and forgotten military bases to my travels near and far.
I’m a late bloomer in the world of abstract photography, belatedly discovering my personal vision. My work has become both a response and a refuge, offering moments of escape for my audience and myself. By visually articulating my observations of the universe, I invite others to experience my art with curiosity and enchantment. Each piece entices one to pause, reflect, and engage with the world on an adventure into the unseen. This dance between technology and nature tempts us to explore the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary and reckon with the layers of dreams that guide us towards a more audacious path.