BRENDEN DAVIS

Curriculum Vitae

Biography

Brenden Davis is a multidisciplinary artist based in Jackson, Mississippi, specializing in painting, graphic design, and animation. Their work delves into themes of surrealism, abstraction, and the Black experience, focusing on self-perception and social dynamics. Inspired by personal experiences and cultural influences, Davis crafts abstract and surreal figures and dreamscapes that challenge societal perceptions and invite viewers into alternate worlds. Their art aims to captivate visually, spark thoughtful conversations, and inspire meaningful dialogue.

Exhibitions


NEW HISTORY

Hall Gallery - Jackson, MS
2025

NEW HISTORY brings together four emerging Mississippi artists who reimagine Black American experience through bold artistic vision. From Jonathan Buckley's vibrant explorations of identity to Kwasi Butler's emotionally charged paintings, Ava Davis's examination of spiritual interconnectedness, and Brenden Davis's surreal dreamscapes, this exhibition challenges traditional narratives. Together, these works transform our understanding of history as a living, breathing document shaped by our collective dreams and actions.


BOLD in DESIGN (ART PARTY 2025)

Hall Gallery - Jackson, MS
2025

Bold in Design (Art Party 2025) is an annual fundraising benefit, silent auction, and art exhibition held by the Mississippi Museum of Art featuring established and emerging visual artists throughout the state of Mississippi.


It Takes a Village

Arts Center of Mississippi - Jackson, MS
2024

Curated by Operation Shoestring, this exhibition invites artists from Mississippi to create works in response to Operation Shoestring's oral history project entitled "Raising Children in Central Jackson".


The South Got Somethin' To Say

Arts Center of Mississippi - Jackson, MS
2024

The exhibition, curated by Jackson State University students, presents unique perspectives from emerging artists and celebrates the rich culture, history, and creativity of the southern United States.


Landscape (Art Party 2024)

Mississippi Museum of Art - Jackson, MS
2024

Landscape (Art Party 2024) is an annual fundraising benefit, silent auction, and art exhibition held by the Mississippi Museum of Art featuring established and emerging visual artists throughout the state of Mississippi.


Priced to Move

Hal & Mal's - Jackson, MS
2023

Priced to Move is an annual art fair and Jackson, Mississippi's premier pop-up art gallery, allowing the local community to purchase art at accessible prices and engage with artists from in and around their community.


Greenfield Farm Plein Air Invitational

University of Mississippi - Oxford, MS
2023

Held on September 17th, 2023 at the historic Greenfield Farm once owned by renowned author William Faulkner, select artists from around the state of Mississippi were invited by the University of Mississippi to document and celebrate the natural beauty of the historic location with a juried plein air exhibition judged by a committee of practicing artists and educators.


2023 Mississippi Invitational

Mississippi Museum of Art - Jackson, MS
2023

The Mississippi Invitational, a biennial exhibition, is a survey of recent works created by contemporary visual artists living and working in the state. Artists from across the state are invited to submit for consideration. This year's artists were selected by guest curator Katie Pfohl, Associate Curator of Contemporary Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts.


LUCID BODIES: VISIONS OF AFRO-SURREALISM IN THE SOUTH

Municipal Art Gallery - Jackson, MS
2023

On view at Municipal Art Gallery from March 30, 2023 until April 29, 2023, Lucid Bodies is a joint showing of the art of Brenden Davis and H.I. Green. This exhibition is a visual exploration of Blackness, Identity, Religiosity, and Structural Racism in Southern Society.


The Mash Up - Art Exhibition

Municipal Art Gallery - Jackson, MS
2023

Presented by VIBE Studios and curated by Alexis Noble, The Mashup is an art exhibition aimed towards showcasing the talents of artists from diverse backgrounds using a variety of mediums.


The Art of Wellness: Panel Conversation & Art Exhibit

Duling Hall - Jackson, MS
2022

THE ART OF WELLNESS seeks to provide a space of support in the arts for Black and Brown Mississippians, while building a pipeline for creativity and mental wellness throughout the state. This is about taking care of the community that takes care of us by sharing mental health resources, encouraging artistic expression, and positively maintaining our greatest masterpiece—our own wellbeing.


Education

  • B.A. Studio Art - Millsaps College - 2020