BIOGRAPHY
Brian Wong Won is a Trinidadian born artist known for his bright colors, expressionistic compressions of space and distortions of architectural space. His subjects tend to be Trinidad carnival and the local vintage architecture; he works primarily out of Miami but travels back and forth to his hometown of Port-of-Spain.
He has been noted by both collectors and critics to be the only one to fully capture the spirit and feeling of the Carnival festivities via his vivid palette and expressive playful use of perspective. His Carnival paintings tend to be satirical, expressively tongue and cheek and very detailed, which also carries into his architectural subjects, for which he is well known.
Brian was born in Trinidad in the 1970 and educated at St. Mary’s College in Port-of-Spain until 1987 where he left to pursue further studies in the USA. He obtained both an AA in Graphic Design and a BFA in Painting & Art History. He was also a graphic designer and art teacher for several years and now currently lives in Miami, Florida. In 2007 he formed his own Carnival J’Ouvert band MAS Jumbies in Trinidad.
He has been drawing since the age of five, inspired by color and drama of Trinidad Carnival and the mystique of his late grandfather’s artistic skills of Chinese Calligraphy and Watercolors. The former would become the catalyst for much of his adult work as he became a full time artist. He would have some twenty solo shows starting in 1996 and countless joint shows in Trinidad, the US and England. He is also involved with The Carnival Arts Organization where teaches and conducts workshops with children on the skills and artistry of Trinidad Carnival in Miami.
His work can be found in the National Museum of Trinidad & Tobago and several corporate and private collections.
List of Shows (Joint & Solo).
Global Caribbean IV, Little Haiti Cultural Center Museum, Miami, FL 2014
Shades of Black 2014, Little Haiti Cultural Center Museum, Miami, FL 2014
CARIFESTA 2013, Paramaribo, Suriname 2013
Pandemonium solo show, BAND Gallery, Toronto Canada, 2012
Play me I’m Yours, painted pianos for the 2015 Pan American Games, Toronto.
Tropical Expressions solo show, Trinidad & Tobago Consulate, Toronto, Canada, 2012
Island Vibe Joint Show with Jeremy Powell, Horizons Art Gallery, Trinidad, 2011
Save the Cathedral Joint Charity Show, Archbishop’s Palace, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 2011
Paradiso Joint Show with Jeremy Powell, Fine Art Gallery, Trinidad, 2011
Caribbean Joint Show, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami, FL 2011
DUO with Jeremy Powell, Horizons Art Gallery, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 2010
Join Show with Naila Felice & Justin Sobion, Horizons Art Gallery, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 2009
Carifesta X, Joint Show, National Convention Center, Georgetown, Guyana, 2009
Bicentennial Chinese Artists of Trinidad & Tobago, Joint show, Central Bank, Trinidad, 2009
Applause III, Y Art & Framing, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 2009
Art of The Main, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Metropolitan Pavilion, New York, 2008
Mas & Mas, Horizons Art Gallery, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 2008
Diable, Horizons Art Gallery, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 2007
Applause (Joint Show), Yasmin's Art Gallery, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 2006
Carnival Showcase, Fine Art Ltd Art Gallery, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 2006
d'mas, Horizons Art Gallery, Port-of Spain, Trinidad, 2006
We Mas, Horizons Art Gallery, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 2005
Brian Wong Won, The Kisskadee Cultural Labratory, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 2002
Carnival Artist, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami, Florida, 2002
Artists Showcase, The Art Gallery, Lowlands, Tobago, 2002
Gallery Showcase, The Art Gallery, Lowlands, Tobago, 2001
Emerging Caribbean Artists, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami, Florida, 2001
Carnival Exhibition, Studio 44, London, England, 2001
Pandemonium; The Art of Trinidad Carnival, Art Serve, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 2001
City Link Best of Gallery Page, Art Serve, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 2001
Tropical Expressions, North Regional Gallery, Coconut Creek, Florida, 2001
Dingolay-Art from Trinidad & Tobago, London Print Studios, London, England, 2001
Carnival Splendor, Art Creators Gallery, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 2001
Splendor of Bonnet House, The Bonnet House, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 2001
The Art of Brian Wong Won, Michael Biennes Center, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 2000
Caribbean Melange, Studio 44, London, England, 2000
Carnival Crossroads, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami, Florida, 2000
Carnival Spectacular, Kisskadee Gallery, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 2000
De Mas, The Consulate of The Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Miami, Florida, 1999
Tradewinds, Gallery 1234, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 1999
Through the Eye of the Artist, Marlborough House, The Commonwealth Institute, London, England, 1999
CLICO Annual Calendar Exhibition (artist was December month artist), National Museum, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 1999
Melee, Gallery 1234, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 1999
Islands, Art Creators Gallery, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 1999
Carnival!, Whiteleys Art Gallery, London, England, 1998
Windswept, Gallery 1234, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 1998
Botay, Art Creators Gallery, Port-f Spain, Trinidad, 1998
Dingolay, Gallery 101, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 1997
Pandemonium, Gallery 101, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 1996
Annual Aquarela Summer Showcase, Gallery 101, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 1995-2001
