Mia Brownell
Painting on a molecular level
Interview//Heather Sparks Mia Brownell grew up in several US cities with two brothers and an artist and a scientist for parents. Her work takes equal influence from both worlds. She currently teaches drawing and painting in New Haven at Southern Connecticut State University and has had her work shown in New York, Boston and Washington. Her last exhibition was in Miami at the Scope Art Show this November 2011. Mia is currently working on a mural to be installed at the Cell and Genome Science Building at the University of Connecticut.
What was life like growing up in such a science- and
art-rich environment? How did that influence your work today?
Well, I am a real synthesis of both
my parent’s interests. My mother is a really very talented artist and sculptor.
She does a lot of work in bronze, and recently ceramics. My father is a
biophysicist and he’s been nominated for the Nobel Prize a few times.
So whether I was hanging out in my mom’s studio or hanging out in my dad’s lab, there was this constant of buzz of energy, creativity, and curiosity growing up. And of course that found it’s way into my practice. I always knew I was going to be a painter and I’m really fortunate that they let me do that.
How did you always know you were a painter?
I don’t think I could answer that
really. I mean, I just always kinda knew. You know how you can’t remember
exactly how you learned to read or speak? It was the same thing with painting.
It was always a thing I could do and it was always a part of me. I just never
doubted it.