Hebru Brantley doesn’t simply create art. He builds universes. Flyboy, Lil Mama and Phibby, the characters at the nexus of Brantley’s ever-expanding fictional world, are heroes for a new age: young, fearless, and street-smart. First taking flight in murals across the artist’s native Chicago, Flyboy, Lil Mama and Phibby have since touched down everywhere from museum walls to music videos to branded merchandise, earning a fervent fan following that transcends geographies and generations.
Editionscaptures Brantley’s sold-out summer 2020 exhibit at Chicago’s Vertical Gallery, collecting dozens of one-of-a-kind Flyboy, Lil Mama and Phibby screenprints in a dazzling array of colors — a process of repetition and variation evoking the pop-art innovations of Andy Warhol, a profound influence on Brantley’s career and craft.
In addition to full-color reproductions of all images included in the Editions show, this 160-page collectible hardcover volume features a comprehensive history of the years-long Editions project, behind-the-scenes photos, and exclusive insights from the artist himself.
Hebru Brantley creates narrative-driven work revolving around his conceptualized iconic characters. Brantley utilizes these characters to address complex ideas around nostalgia, the mental psyche, power, and hope. The color palettes, pop-art motifs and characters themselves create accessibility around his layered and multifaceted ideas. Brantley works in a plethora of mediums and his art challenges the traditional view of the hero or protagonist. Through his characters, Brantley seeks to reassess contemporary culture and mythology through the lens of Afrofuturism.creates narrative-driven work revolving around his conceptualized iconic characters. Brantley utilizes these characters to address complex ideas around nostalgia, the mental psyche, power, and hope. The color palettes, pop-art motifs and characters themselves create accessibility around his layered and multifaceted ideas. Brantley works in a plethora of mediums and his art challenges the traditional view of the hero or protagonist. Through his characters, Brantley seeks to reassess contemporary culture and mythology through the lens of Afrofuturism.