Gallery Afternoon is pleased to present a solo exhibition by the American-based painter, Fanny Brodar (b.1971), starting from November 11th.

Fanny Brodar graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Illustration from The Art Institute of Boston and currently works primarily in Maine, New England. Influenced by artists like Rose Wylie and Japanese manga, she has reached beyond her background in illustration to pursue a unique style of painting.

Brodar typically composes the narratives of her works based on childhood memories—a period she recollects as the most imaginative and enchanting time of her life. Her cherished toys from those years felt almost alive and interactive, offering her comfort. Those enchanted memories live on to inspire her spirited, artistic works.

Lately, characters from beloved television programs of her childhood, such as Monchhichi, Charlie Brown, and Snoopy, have appeared on canvas, portrayed with the artist’s touch of playful imagination. They gather and hang out to share cake, play games, and enjoy delightful moments.

The paintings’ backgrounds are adorned with rainbows, hearts, patterns, and overall bright and colorful palettes, foregrounding diverse characters, and comic-book style compositions. The childlike expressions and scribbled words evoke nostalgia, while also nudging viewers with questions of what is real and what is make-believe.

Even the most cherished toys and character figures from childhood eventually drifted away with the passage of time, replaced by new friends and experiences in reality. When most of these toys were discarded and lost, the artist felt so was the innocence and magic of childhood. Through depicting these childhood character toys in art, she seeks to revisit those wonderful days of childish purity and bliss.

Much like the exhibition title Friends, the characters on canvas are related to her childhood friends—many of whom were imaginary—and then to growth and friendship. Through her unique works, Fanny Brodar beckons the audience to step into a world pure in imagination and previous to any tarnishing, welcoming all our reminiscent pauses about our most cherished and magical childhood memories.