Brea Monet Allen

Art is a reflection of self, and Brea Monet Allen a 27-year-old Broward County artist puts her heart and soul into every one of her creations.

“Being a black woman, a lot of my inspiration comes from my own personal experiences and explorations,” Allen told Villij News.

“I am fascinated with the female body, as well as the many emotions, expectations and roles that society and culture imposes upon women. I also gain inspiration from astrology and metaphysical explorations, my relationship with my partner, and sometimes from my third eye visions I “see” while meditating.”

Allen’s artwork is colorful, vivacious and explosive. For Allen, bringing these artistic visions to life takes work and courage. Her artistic process usually begins with an idea or a vision she receives while meditating or drifting off to sleep.

“If it’s an abstract piece that I’m working on, I usually just make sure I have my color scheme together, before diving in. If it’s more of a realistic piece, I’ll sketch it out first in my notebook, before moving on to the canvas. The process can definitely be tedious and time consuming, and there are definitely moments of exhaustion where I have to take a break from the piece for a few days or even a few months! However, when I finally complete a piece, and sign my signature, there’s this indescribable rush of excitement and appreciation for finally getting the idea out of your body and mind, and possibly introducing it to the world.”

Allen’s pieces have taken the local art community by storm as evidenced by her latest award for her piece “ARI.” The piece is a portrait of songbird Ari Lennox. She won the Broward Art Guild’s People’s Choice Award as well as an Honorable Mention. She hopes that the exposure can help make a positive impact to those who are often underrepresented in the art community.

“It’s my hope that my art makes people feel seen, specifically the black woman,” she said. “More than anything, I want my art to evoke a range of emotions from the viewer, be it tranquility, anger, lust, or excitement.”

As an artist, Brea works with a variety of mediums. “Everything I do is by hand, which I feel gives an added level of authenticity, but it is one of my goals for this year to learn how to take my art into the digital landscape. I prefer to work with acrylic paint and epoxy resin for my larger pieces, but I also work with Prismacolor pencils and markers when creating illustrations.”

“I believe the role my art plays in society is making more room at the table for the black female artist! While I definitely hope to achieve national and international success as an artist, more than anything I hope to create an outlet for black children and future generations of creatives to explore and create.”

You can find Brea’s art on her website at www.artbybreamonet.com as well as on her Instagram, @artby.breamonet.