Arts + Public Life presents the undercommons, the first solo exhibition by painter Brandon Carlton. Through his distinctive approach to stylized figuration, Carlton explores the complexities of contemporary Black life, using portraiture and spatial composition to evoke intimacy, distance, and presence.
Taking inspiration from The Undercommons: Fugitive Planning & Black Study by Fred Moten and Stefano Harney, the exhibition engages with their concept of the undercommons—a space of "fugitive sociality," where collective life unfolds beyond dominant structures. Carlton’s figures inhabit ambiguous realms—neither entirely confined by structure nor completely unbound by freedom. In these carefully orchestrated spaces, they embody a continual negotiation of identity, asserting agency and evoking the enduring presence of historical memory.
Carlton’s approach draws from the layered surfaces of Alex Katz and David Hockney, as well as Jordan Casteel’s nuanced portrayals of community and everyday encounters. Through gesture, color, and composition, his work reimagines presence, offering new ways of seeing and understanding Black life beyond fixed narratives.
About the Artist:
Brandon Carlton’s practice is rooted in self-definition and a commitment to honest representation. His guiding philosophy—“You gotta love yourself”—is not just a personal mantra but a framework for engaging with the world. For Carlton, self-acceptance is foundational to his artistic process, shaping how he portrays the nuances of identity, intimacy, and personal evolution.
Born in Baltimore, Carlton’s early exposure to construction work alongside his mother introduced him to the materials and textures that continue to inform his practice. His paintings challenge narrow representations of Blackness by embracing the full spectrum of skin tones and lived experiences, moving beyond simplistic binaries. Merging figuration with his background in streetwear and modeling, he constructs portraits that exist between memory and imagination. His work draws from a wide range of influences, from the stylized realism of Alex Katz and David Hockney to the everyday humor and surrealism of animated television.
For Carlton, painting is both a creative and existential necessity—an ongoing process of self-determination. His work resists easy categorization, instead offering layered narratives that reflect the complexity of contemporary Black life.
