Jacob Broussard received his BFA in Painting from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2014 and attended Virginia Commonwealth University Summer Studio Program in 2015. His work expands across painting, sculpture, craft, and sound. He has exhibited his work nationally at various public spaces and galleries and has spoken in regards to his practice at the inaugural TEDxVermilionStreet. He has been an Artist In Residence at the The Vermont Studio Center, River Oaks Square Center for the Arts, The Art Students League of New York at Vyt Residency, Chalk Hill Residency, and the Atlantic Center for the Arts. He will begin his MFA in Painting and Printmaking at the Yale School of Art in September 2017.
Who are you? What do you do?
I am a painter mostly, but I jump between mediums quite often – sculpture, installation, a bit of video work. I like to change it up and surprise myself by working across the board. Painting is always going to be a huge interest of mine – there’s so much potential in the medium itself. But I find it interesting to start over often – each time I pick up a new project, it’s an opportunity it’s start over.
What are you working on now?
Right now, I am currently trying to figure out these Home Depot catalogue collage drawings; they’re confusing me at the moment, which I like. I also curate the gallery space at Basin Arts, I like to think of it as an extension of my artmaking. I’m currently putting together an outdoor front yard installation with invited artists from around the country. Be on the lookout!
Why Basin Arts
Basin Arts provides such close proximity to so many resources – collaboration, professional development, a community. As an artist, it’s easy to fall into a reclusive trap. The studio provides an outlet for possibility – I can cross exchange with another artist and meet other thinkers involved with the space. I love its chameleon-like approach and I believe it helps to shape the way I approach artmaking.
What feeds your creative practice?
I’m a firm believer in lived experience – I think labor is a huge influence towards the way that I think about productivity. Working odd jobs can lead to some of the most interesting questions about value, nobility, and stewardship. I love when those elements synchronize themselves into the studio.
When do you feel most in your element?
I feel most comfortable between places; somewhere that feels familiar but also quite new. Traveling helps. I like to spend a fair amount of my year participating in artist residencies – it’s a great means of networking, meeting new people, and building a support system for yourself that can extend into your local community.
Where can we find you next?
You can find me at Basin Arts most days, working in my studio. I’m currently gearing up for a huge move – I will be relocating to New Haven, Connecticut for graduate school at the Yale School of Art. It’s a bittersweet transition! Basin Arts has been more than generous with its resources and support.
What are you reading currently?
I am currently reading Mindwise: Why We Misunderstand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want by Nicholas Epley and Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman.
Learn more at www.jacobtoddbroussard.com