Artist Brea Anderson opens up about staying motivated, what keeps her inspired to create, her first solo show, and more. Words by Akili King.
The ‘Artfully Free’ column explores themes of creativity and artistry at the intersections of freedom and self-care. Each installment features an interview with a rising artist who gets real about their journeys, artistic integrity, what self-care means to their practices, and how they avoid burnout, or not, in a fast-paced, capitalistic society.
For Brea Anderson, who is known for her stunning, large scale oil on canvas portraits of her loved ones, her proudest moments have nothing to do with the end result, or even the creative process. “My proudest moments are when I’m interacting with viewers of my work and talking with them,” the Baltimore-born, Brooklyn-based artist shares. “I love hearing how people interpret a composition and understanding why they connect with it. It’s very validating. I want to keep fostering more opportunities for people to sit with my artwork in person.”
This appreciation for her viewers keeps her grounded through all of her accomplishments—like showing in the Chilli Gallery last fall and the Long Story Short Gallery in Paris earlier this year. And, speaking of Long Story Short, even more recently, she debuted her first-ever solo show, The Waiting Room, there in the spring. “2026 has been fruitful to me. I’m always looking forward to new people, places, and things.”
For the artist, avoiding burnout looks a lot like paying “attention to mind, body, and spirit,” she shares. In other words, “I journal, meditate, stay active, and prioritize having fun. I want to feel healthy and present with myself,” she adds. “I think I’m quite sensitive, and my artistry is so dependent on my emotions and how I interact with the world around me. I just try to do the things I enjoy freely and intuitively.”
With that, below, Anderson discusses her creative process, how she defines self-care as an artist today, and more.
What Her Creative Process Looks Like:
These days it’s pretty regimented. I created a timeline for the next few months, so once I get in front of my canvas, I take a moment to analyze my next steps for the day based on what I need to complete that week. I might light an incense, I turn on my music or a podcast, clean my brushes, mix my paint, and get to it. If things get too tight, I’m up early, I’m doing all-nighters, and then there’s no linear method or process.
What Helps Her Create Her Best Work:
I create my best work in my studio room at home on a bright, quiet morning, when I have no other obligations for the day. I’ve probably had tea or coffee (I aspire to sleep 8+ hours a night), and my phone is either locked or out of sight because I’m very easily distracted. The best work happens probably after an hour or two, I gotta find my flow state.
When It Comes to Taking A Step Back:
I never need a reason to step back and chill. I think my natural state is relaxing. Because of this, I am aiming for balance and learning that a break shouldn’t always be mindless or completely idle. I want to keep my motivation. Daily, I take walks and have been running more consistently, which keeps my energy and spirits high but also really clears my mind. In general, though, unless I’ve just completed a difficult piece or a number of works, I do find purpose in the process and feel kind of bad when I’ve stepped away for too long.
What Self-Care Means To Her:
The more present I am in my experiences, the more inspired I am and pour into my ideas. Also being mindful of media consumption. I don’t like feeling as if my brain is on a hamster wheel. I want to feed it information that is useful and be able to store that information properly…basically I’m doing less scrolling.
Equity and Artistry:
I mean, I am a Black woman artist. There is a pay gap for Black women in the US across industries. I already know what and who I am fighting against. I also know I didn’t choose the most statistically profitable or easy career path, especially since I didn’t go to school for it, but I can’t focus on that.
As I’m aiming to form a sustainable career, I’m aware of the importance of this emerging stage to establish myself by making good work consistently, and I need to make a living in order to do this. It’s a cycle. There is a part of me that feels I have to prove that I am capable, which isn’t a negative for me. I can’t say I’ve reached burn out yet. I want to show up, I want to be challenged, and at the end of the day, I do want to be paid.
How Music Fuels Her Creative Process:
I listen to all types of genre blends; alt-indie, electronica, leftfield pop, and usually anything rooted in 70s soul and jazz. I’m loving the music coming out of CPH. My taste can be broad, so I often turn to mixes on NTS, and I will always hear something new. When I need to ground and lock in, I have 4-6 hour playlists of jazz, cosmic/atmospheric sounds, and ambient electronic stuff. Sounds I can sit quietly to. Although as the day goes on, I get more energetic and I’m moving and singing out loud while I paint.
On a few occasions, a song title or lyric has inspired the title of an artwork.
How She Protects Her Energy As An Artist:
Authenticity, intuition. Creating from an honest place, which can mean vulnerability. Being inspired yet seeking out my own why, my own vision, and my own methods. In a business context, saying no when things don’t feel aligned. I will accept guidance and am willing to be challenged, but I don’t want to do things I don’t like or work with people who don’t make me feel valued as an artist. I hope to not have to deal with that too much, but that’s life.
What Keeps Her Inspired:
Trying to read more, listen to artist interviews and talks, and expose myself to various forms of art. Seeing artwork up close is super inspiring, especially paintings. I love analyzing the layers and brushstrokes of other artists’ work. I’m also currently doing The Artist’s Way, which I don’t have any true expectations for, but it is allowing me to write through whatever is on my mind every single day, which usually unfurls some sort of inspiration.
