ABOUT

Brandon Bravo is a Puerto Rican-Ecuadorian artist whose work explores the complexities of identity, heritage, and belonging. Born in Rhode Island and raised across the East Coast as a military child, he lived in North Carolina, Virginia, Jersey City, and ultimately Woodbridge, New Jersey, where he cultivated his passion for the arts. He studied Studio Arts at Kean University and currently serves as Operations Director at the renowned Canvas & Grapes Studio.

Growing up in the United States, Bravo learned about Puerto Rico primarily through family stories and traditions. It wasn’t until traveling to the island that he began to experience and understand his cultural roots firsthand. This ongoing journey of self-discovery informs his work, which navigates the dualities of being Puerto Rican in the United States—the tension between American upbringing and cultural heritage.

Through painting, Bravo examines personal and cultural narratives, drawing on memory, family, and the nuances of identity in the diaspora. His practice combines classical techniques, such as wet-on-wet and glazing, with contemporary storytelling, creating layered compositions rich in symbolism and emotion. Each piece is a reflection on heritage, belonging, and the pursuit of understanding oneself.