Brian Belott

NO DUDE

2015
cotton batting, colorfast paper, acrylic paint, matte medium, tissue box,
36 1/2 x 22 1/2 x 3 1/4 inches

and pencil eraser

The lumpy assemblages of Brooklyn-based Brian Belott are one of many experiments he has explored in his art-making career. Likening them to Claes Oldenburg’s soft sculptures, Belott refers to the works as “puff pieces” where cotton batting under the surface causes the paper to bulge in unexpected places. In this work, No Dude, scrawled text is offset with the logo of Puffs tissues taken directly from the box. These layered paintings are a result of his studio investigations. While making collages, Belott said he “got tired of art where the stuff was glued on the surface. With these, it feels like maybe there’s this treasure trove of things inside.”