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Steve Brudniak

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Steve Brudniak (born April 9, 1961, Topeka, Kansas) is an American artist, actor, filmmaker and musician. Known for highly crafted, unusual assemblage sculpture, imbued with transcendental and unique scientific elements; his visual art career spans over four decades, with work in the permanent collections of several art museums in United States. His acting and film endeavors began at the age of 13. Some notable roles include pivotal characters in Richard Linklater’s Waking Life and Robert Rodriguez’s Hypnotic. Brudniak was also a founding member of Spiny Normen and other psychedelic music groups from 1977 ‒ present and operated Victorian Recording Studio during the mid 1980’s. He spent his elementary, high school years, and early 20’s in Houston, Texas, eventually moving to Austin, Texas where he currently lives.[1][2]

Art

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Noumenon Objectifying in Four Parts (2005), assemblage with emanating reflection optical lens, 48 x 19 x 6 in. (collection of Catarina Sigerfoos, Austin, Texas)
The Vagus Leviathan (2008), assemblage with photograph, fiber optic lens and kinetic mechanism, 50 x 21 x 6 in. (Collection of John Little)
Ontological Catastrophe (2019), assemblage with antique electronic test equipment and engraved cast iron, carved phenolic and ABS plastics. 51 x 31 x 7 in.
In the Wake of the Exodus Toward the Breach in the Gate (2018), assemblage with ultraviolet light, glass optics, antique bronze fish, brass plate, antique cast iron, carved phenolic, 4 million year old fish fossil, colored jojoba oil and brass snake chain. 82 x 33 x 8 in.

During the 1980s Brudniak was an active member of the Houston Alternative Art scene and represented by four different galleries during this time.[1] In 1988 he moved to Austin, Texas, Texas, where he continues to work from his Bouldin Creek studio.[2] His art has been included well over 100 exhibitions, [1]: 193-194 pp.  and is in the collections of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; San Antonio Museum of Art; Mexic-Arte Museum, Austin; Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi; El Paso Museum of Art; Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont; and Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans.[1]: 197 p. [3][4][5] In 2008 his Astrogeneris Mementos became the first assemblage sculptures exhibited in outer space, taken aboard the International Space Station by entrepreneur and astronaut Richard Garriott.[1]: 159-162 pp. [6]: 71 p. [7][8]

Brudniak's assemblages engage the phenomena of consciousness through applications of experimental phenomenal media, incorporating, often pioneering, unconventional and scientific elements such as high voltage electricity, gyro mechanics, combustion, ultraviolet, laser, optical and fiber optic technologies, as well as the oldest known geological and living preservations. His 1987 Imogene Icon (collection of San Antonio Museum of Art)[9] is considered the earliest application of a Tesla coil incorporated into a permanent sculpture and his 1991 sculpture The Saturated Well of Baptism, the first to use magnetic ferrofluid in a sculptural context.[1][3][6][10][11]

Filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro writes, “Each of Steve Brudniak’s artifacts is a relic from a time that never was, and each of them holds a secret. Through superb craftsmanship and a keen eye for design, Brudniak integrates science and technology into his sculptures: ...groundbreaking uses of retro tech shock, produce lightning, induce hypnosis, reflect impossible images and light and produce sound through interaction. Liquids miraculously come alive. Other works amaze merely with their unprecedented content and exquisite form. Brudniak fabricates, manipulates or re-shapes found materials into absolutely coherent, powerful works of art.”[1]: 10 p. 

His integration of found objects in the construction of art differs from collage by appearing to be operational machines or ritualistic implements that operate on psychological and spiritual levels.[1]: 13‒14p. [10] In her 1992 ARTnews review, Elizabeth McBride elaborates: “The landscape he has created with his latest sculptures is dark, frightening, reminiscent of ancient sacrificial structures and torture chambers. And although they are assemblages, they resemble real objects that at some time might have really existed. Thus the physical beauty of Brudniak's work is balanced by the horror of obsession, addiction, and captivity. Caught in such conflicts, we feel danger is everywhere…Brudniak achieves a powerful, exquisite range not only with real objects-how easy to slip into the trap, how difficult to climb out—but with illusions, whose most potent effects are created not in the gallery but in the internal world that each of us inhabits.”[12] Arts writer and curator Anjali Gupta observes, “His explorations of the self and the subconscious become deliberately and elaborately inscrutable vaults for the unknowable. He invalidates the deductive reasoning associated with scientific hypotheses in his conceptual approach but mollifies it in the aesthetic outcome. Brudniak tilts referentiality without mollifying it; rather, he encrypts it.”[1]: 13 p. 

His Treatise, Saving Beauty: The Painful Rebirthing of Visual Aesthetic in Contemporary Art, is a scolding commentary on the diminishing importance of visual beauty and craft in postmodern, contemporary art.[11][13]

Art Books and Documentaries

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The monograph, The Science of Surrealism - Assemblage Sculpture of Steve Brudniak was published in 2013 documenting thirty years of the artist's career in photos, essays and commentary. It was edited by Anjali Gupta, with a foreword by Guillermo del Toro and is in 99 public, university, and museum libraries worldwide.[1][14] Books and documentaries featuring Brudniak's work are listed in the bibliography below.

Art books

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  • Bunch, Robert Craig. Dreams, Visions, Other Worlds: Interviews with Texas Artists. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2024
  • Webbernick, Gary. 100 Texas Sculptors. Austin, TX: Texas Sculpture Group, 2024
  • Bunch, Robert Craig, The Art of Found Objects: Interviews with Texas Artists. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2016.
  • Chemeketa College Art Faculty. Art for Everyone, Salem, Oregon: Chemeketa Press, 2016.
  • Gupta, Anjali ed., The Science of Surrealism - Assemblage Sculpture of Steve Brudniak. Austin TX: Merrid Zone, 2013
  • Del Toro, Guillermo and Zicree, Marc. Guillermo Del Toro - Cabinet of Curiosities. London, England: Titan Books, 2013
  • Brenner, Wayne Alan. Minerva’s Wreck: Austin Arts Anthology, Austin TX: Café Armageddon, 2010.
  • Branwyn, Gareth. Device Volume 2: Reconstructed, San Diego, CA: IDW Publishing, July 2009.
  • Reese, Becky Duval. Texas 100: Selections from the El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso, TX: El Paso Museum of Art Foundation, 2006.
  • Otten, William G. and Michelle W. Locke. The Legacy Continues, Corpus Christi, TX: Art Museum of South Texas, 2006.
  • Morton, Jennifer. Belong: A TV Journalist's Search for Urban Culture: from Beirut to Bamako, from Havana to Ho Chi Minh City: Stories and Photos. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Insomniac Press, 2004.
  • Greene, Alison de Lima. Texas: 150 Works from the Museum of Fine Arts. NY, NY: Harry N. Abrams, October 1, 2000.
  • Burns, Gerald. Shorter Poems. Normal, IL: Dalkey Archive Press, May 1993.
  • Hendricks, Patricia D. and Becky Duval Reese. A Century of Sculpture in Texas 1889-1989. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1989.
  • McEvilley, Thomas. Another Reality. Houston, TX: Hooks-Epstein Galleries, June 1989.

Art documentary

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  • Ulteriaphobia: The Art of Steve Brudniak. Dir. Luke Savisky. Austin, TX: Klaus und Hans Productions, 1995, Video documentary.
  • Indie Live Austin. “Steve Brudniak: Interview with Diana Brochin.” Austin, TX: ACTV, January 2010.
  • Steve Brudniak – Noumenon. Dir. Wiley Wiggins. Austin, TX: 2008, Video documentary.
  • Steve Brudniak. Dir. Andrew Nourse. Austin, TX: Andy Nourse Productions, 1998 Video documentary.

Film

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Brudniak began acting in and directing his own short films at the age of 13[2] and has appeared in over 50 films, notably Richard Linklater's Waking Life and Robert Rodriguez's Red 11 and Hypnoitic; in video production and television shows including the Reelz Channels Murder Made Me Famous, AMC's The Son and El Rey Network's Rebel Without a Crew. In 2009 he produced, acted in and co-directed Eric Frodsham's Moments The Go feature film. Brudniak is also a voice actor for video games, narration, animation and radio and television commercials. He has appeared in advertising for Ford, PNC Bank, LegalZoom, Mido Lotto, Texas Tourism, Capital One, Indian Motorcycle, Cox Business and others.[15][16][17] (See Actor Website under external links below for complete filmography)

Filmography

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Selected films

Steve Brudniak with Ben Affleck on the set of Hypnotic as the Texas Ranger.
Year Film Role Director Notes
2024 Stateside Supporting Zach Machen
2024 Open Marriage Lead Zach Machen
2023 Imitator of Everything Lead Logan Kelly
2023 Lost Souls Supporting Katherine Propper
2023 Hypnotic Supporting Robert Rodriguez
2022 It’s Alive Lead Zach Machen
2022 Walter Lead Jonathan Dryden-Jaffe
2021 Man Seeking Man Lead Travis White
2021 Birds Lead Katherine Propper
2021 No Loss No Gain Lead Christian Rousseau
2020 Pulpit Lead Zach Machen
2020 Pizzagate Massacre Support
2020 Christ Almighty Lead Zach Machen
2019 Godforsaken Lead
2019 Robert Jr. Lead Thomas Raker
2018 The Iron Orchard Supporting Ty Roberts
2018 The Last Supper Lead Zach Machen
2018 Musa Malvada Lead Liz Tabish
2018 Red 11 Lead Robert Rodriguez
2018 Cecelia Lead Liz Tabish
2018 The Iron Orchard Supporting Ty Roberts
2017 Calling Lead Artemis Anastasiadou Austin Film Festival Selection
2017 Bonafide Beauty Supporting Samantha Schell
2017 The Long Road Home Lead Alex Winker
2017 Watchers Supporting Amadeus Gonzalez
2016 Psychotropical Lead Liz Tabish
2016 Clamps Supporting Zach Scott, Jill Bailey
2016 Comfort Lead KC Coker
2016 The Bridge Lead Colton Constanzo
2016 The Dying Light Lead Jack Nassif
2016 Promises Supporting Melody Brooke
2015 Bunny and Non-Bunnyness Lead Ben Blanchard Cannes Selection
2015 Ghost Valley Lead Georgetown Ray Associate Producer
2015 Little Green Men Supporting Rob Larkin
2015 Door to Door Lead Jarrod Yerkes
2015 Wartorn Lead Harold Fisch
2014 Carjacker Supporting Taylor Camarot
2014 Bully Bully Lead DeRae Logan
2014 Bye Bye Blackbird Supporting Gaia Bosignore
2013 Moments the Go Supporting Eric Frodsham Co-Director, Co-Producer
2012 Camp Kickitoo Supporting Rick Sternberg
2002 Absinthe Supporting Marta Banda Producer
2001 Waking Life Supporting Richard Linklater Rotoscoped
1998 Two for Texas Featured Rod Hardy Uncredited
1997 Parts of a Woman Lead Kathleen Collins

Selected television

Still from Empire of Shadows as Sen. Jeremy Johnson (TV pilot).
Year TV Show Role Director Notes
2023 Empire of Shadows Lead Bejan Faramarz TV pilot
2019 The Son Guest Star AMC Series
2018 West World Interactive Experience
2018 Rebel Without a Crew Self Robert Rodriguez Series
2017 Annihilator Guest Star Julio Quintana Series Teaser
2017 Is Game of Throngs a Soap Opera Guest Star Rooster Teeth
2017 Murder Made Me Famous Guest Star Brad Osborne Series
2016 Alabama Shakes Principal Zach Scott, Rachel Immaraj Spec. Music Video
2016 Good Field Principal Zach Scott Music Video
2004 Sir Richard Self BBC Television Documentary
1995 Austin Self City TV Documentary

Selected voice over

Year Title Role Director Notes
2024 Here Ya Go Bud Various Characters Wes Archer Animation
2023 Capitol Ranch Real Estate Principal capitolranch.com Commercial
2022 Jaston Williams, I Saw the Lights Principal Block House Spot
2022 Hard West II Principal Creative Forms Games SA Video Game
2021 Mido Lotto Principal Lemon Light Commercial
2017 KingsIsle Various Characters KingsIsle Entertainment Video Game
2016 Redeemer Various Characters Gambitious Video Game
1985 Jack Mack and Rad Boy Go! Various Characters Wes Archer Animation, Sound, Score

Music

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In 1976 he and guitar player Gerry Diaz formed the psychedelic rock group Spiny Normen and recorded an album at the Alvin Community College which was released four decades later on RidingEasy Records in 2018, with Brudniak on keyboards, flute, vocals, and some drums tracks.[18] In 1981 he opened the Victorian Recording Studio in Houston, recording many of Houston's alternative, metal, folk, skate and punk groups.[2] He also recorded and performed as a drummer in several bands in both Houston and Austin. He continues to record with Diaz in an experimental effort called Psylobison, playing theremin and Wavetech sound wave generator.[19]

Discography

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Year Band Title Lable Notes
2020 Psylobison Trancedelica www.psylobison.com Recorded 2008-20
2018 Spiny Normen Spiny Normen RidingEasy Recorded 1979
2016 Spiny Normen The Bell Park Loon (on Brown Acid: The Second Trip, compilation album) RidingEasy Recorded 1979
2010 Spiny Normen The Sound of Younger Times (on Brining It All Back Again, compilation album) Shroom Angel Records Recorded 1979

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gupta, Anjali, ed. (2013). The Science of Surrealism - Assemblage Sculpture of Steve Brudniak. Merrid Zone. Austin, Texas. 198 pp. ISBN 978-0-615-75370-6
  2. ^ a b c d McGahey, Sean. "Interview with Steve Brudniak". JPG Magazine. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Greene, Alison de Lima (2000). Texas: 150 Works from the Museum of Fine Arts. Harry N. Abrams, INC Publishers. New York, NY. 278 pp. (see pages 109-110 & 227) ISBN 0-8109-6706-5
  4. ^ Reese, Becky Duval (foreword & introduction), with contributions from Ben Fyffe et al. (2006). Texas 100: Selections from the El Paso Museum of Art. El Paso Museum of Art. El Paso, Texas. 125 pp. ISBN 978-0978538309
  5. ^ Otten, William G.; Locke, Michelle W. (2006). The Legacy Continues. Corpus Christi, TX: Art Museum of South Texas.
  6. ^ a b Brannon, Mike (2018). Profile, Steve Burdniak: Psychedelic Surrrealism Texas Style. 71 Magazine, Jan/Feb 2018: 66-75 pp.
  7. ^ Challenger Center. "Richard Garriott Space Video Blog: Conservation of Momentum". YouTube. Challenger Center. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
  8. ^ Colan, Joann. "Steve Brudniak: Interview with Joann Colan". Rocketboom.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
  9. ^ Hendricks, Patricia D. & Becky Duval Reese (1989). A Century of Sculpture in Texas 1889-1989. University of Texas Press. Austin, Texas xiii, 185 pp. (see pages 113-114 & 153) ISBN 978-0935213188
  10. ^ a b Bunch, Robert Craig (2016). The Art of Found Objects: Interviews with Texas Artists (Vol. 18, Joe and Betty Moore Texas Art Series). Texas A&M University Press. College Station, Texas. 214 pp. ISBN 978-1623496043
  11. ^ a b Corbin, Michael K. "Steve Brudniak: Assemblage Sculpture". Art Book Guy. September 2016.[dead link]
  12. ^ Elizabeth McBride. April 1992. Steve Brudniak, Lynn Goode. Art News, 129 p.
  13. ^ Brudniak, Steve (2014). "Saving Beauty: The Painful Rebirthing of Visual Aesthetic in Contemporary Art". Art Book Guy. Retrieved March 15, 2018.[dead link]
  14. ^ WorldCat. The Science of Surrealism: Assemblage Sculpture of Steve Brudniak. 2013. Merrid Zone, Austin, Texas (accessed June 7, 2024).
  15. ^ Brudniak, Steve. "Steve Brudniak IMDB". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  16. ^ Brudniak, Steve. "Collier Talent Agency" (PDF). Collier Talent Agency. Retrieved March 15, 2018.[dead link]
  17. ^ iSopt.tv: Steve Brudniak (accessed June 7, 2024)
  18. ^ Lewry, Frasier. "Everything You Need to Know About Spiny Normen, Texas's Great Lost Psych Band". Classic Rock Magazine. January 2018.
  19. ^ "Psilobison New Year's Eve at Super Happy Fun Land 12-31-16". YouTube. Ess Dot FX. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
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