BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO
Originally drawn to the dark subjects of Julian Brier’s art, we took a long stroll down the rabbit hole of his work, to find that his portfolio is boundless. We had the opportunity to speak to this Denver artist to learn more about his process and inspiration.
We were originally drawn to your esqueleto (skeleton) pieces, as collectors of all things Dîa de los Muertos. However, we soon found that your body of work is vast. Can you tell us a bit about your journey of becoming a prolific artist?
I have been drawing since I was little but I always had a penchant for storytelling. The only proper art schooling I’ve ever had was attending Denver School of the Arts High School, but I was a terrible student due to the fact that all I cared about was making comics. I used to go to a friend’s garage after school to draw and his walls were lined top to bottom with manga he had collected from Japan. We practiced with nib pens and brushes, constructing our own worlds and stories. That’s where I really started honing in on my craft and passion.
Later in my 20’s, I started getting more acquainted with the Denver art scene. I met a lot of incredible musicians and artists that really shaped who I am today. Art has always been in my life but not until the last 6 years did I start taking it a lot more seriously. This all eventually led me to my first published graphic novel ‘The Cats of Ostia Antica’. Nowadays my art has expanded quite a bit from just comics though. I’ve found great happiness in doing product design, children’s books, album artwork, typography and graphic design.
Your work is diverse ranging from ink to watercolor. How do you decide on a medium for specific projects and do you prefer one over the other?
My artist name and brand I go by is ‘The Mask Museum’ and I think it ties well into this question. In today’s world for artists, you are constantly bottlenecked by social media algorithms to create something consistent and thematic for your followers. Artists feel like they have less freedom to experiment and try different mediums and styles which causes their viewership to suffer for it. The Mask Museum is a reminder for me that it is important to go out of your comfort zone and try new things. It is healthy to embody different styles. It is good to ‘try on different masks’ so to speak. So to answer your question, I go with whatever medium or subject I want to challenge myself with and whatever uncharted realm of art I have yet to explore.
You published your first graphic novel in 2020, called The Cats of Ostia Antica; A silent journey and a visual feast. Can you tell us what inspired this work?
The Cats of Ostia Antica was born out of an amalgamation of two things. The first was my job working at a human tissue lab for 3 years, during which time I cleansed and processed human remains. Not only did I work on deceased body parts (young and old), I became well acquainted with how people passed away and it was heartbreaking. Having such a close proximity to death burdened my mental health and for a long time I had a hard time grappling with my own mortality. I knew I wanted to explore and meditate on these things but I had no outlet at the time.
While working at this donor facility I took a vacation to Italy where I came across an old Roman ruin about 30 miles west of Rome called Ostia Antica. In stark contrast to the colosseum which was almost bursting with tourists, I had this whole ancient town to myself. Except for the cats. Sulking in the shadows of the old stone maze we noticed a bustling community of cats staring at us from every shadow. I found them fascinating. They lounged and sauntered around the place like they had been there since the beginning of time. I knew I had to create a story about them.
So eventually I molded these two concepts into one cohesive story. A story about the old groundskeeper of an ancient Roman ruin who passes away and gets led into the afterlife by none other than the cats that live there. Making the book was a way to gain some catharsis about my meditations on death and also a way to share my adventure with others. The art of the book was made with ink and shaved pastel dust rubbed into the paper.
We would love a glimpse into your studio. Is there music playing? A cat at your feet? Sun or moon lit room? What can you tell us about your process?
I wish I could tell you of an industrial high-ceiling magical studio overlooking the mountains but in reality my girlfriend and I are packed into a shoebox Cap-Hill apartment and in that tiny apartment is a tiny desk where I do most my drawing. As long as my guitar and my plump little cat are around I can usually get to work pretty easily.
The Denver art scene is thriving and from an outside perspective appears to be comprised of a very warm and welcoming group of people. Who do you find inspiration from locally, or beyond?
This city is lush with incredible artists. I am constantly rendered speechless by people I meet and what they create. Instead of listing off a stream of names I guess I’ll pick my top 2 which are Ravi Zupa and Paul Heaston. Also my Grandfather Ricardo and his never-ending creativity. You will see many odes to José Guadalupe Posada and themes of Día de los Muertos in my work due to my passion for Mexico. I am of hispanic descent and it always fills my heart to reconnect and learn about my roots.
What advice would you offer to a budding artist?
Routine, routine, routine. I’ve found that having consistency in your routine makes your progress much faster. Every evening on the dot I start drawing at 6pm even if I have no idea what to draw. The act of putting your butt in your seat at your desk every day will help your mind access that creative flow easier. And also don’t forget – try on different masks!
What can we expect from you in the future?
I regularly update my social media with upcoming prints and projects. My book is available along with prints of my esqueletos available on my website. Also If it doesn’t end up giving me a heart attack beforehand, I will hopefully be finishing my next graphic novel at some point in the near future.
Where can we find your work and do you have any openings on deck?
I am most active on instagram and TikTok at @Themaskmuseum or you can find me at my website www.themaskmuseum.com
Thank you for sharing your art and story with us, Julian. We are inspired by your process and look forward to future work from you.