Brandon Ballengée

Brandon Ballengée creates visual and sculptural projects that investigate ecological crises and the fragility of life. Drawing on his background as a biologist, his work often focuses on developmental deformities, population declines, and environmental degradation among amphibians and other ectothermic species. By combining field research, laboratory study, and artistic interpretation, Ballengée transforms scientific observation into immersive, contemplative experiences. His works frequently employ unconventional materials and methods, such as chemically “clearing and staining” deformed frogs to create reliquary-like sculptures, or sculptural installations that map the interdependence of aquatic ecosystems. Through these practices, he examines the interconnectedness of species and the consequences of human impact on natural habitats. Ballengée’s art is collaborative in nature, often engaging scientists, communities, and local ecosystems to document and communicate ecological phenomena. By merging empirical inquiry with poetic and visual storytelling, his work emphasizes both the vulnerability and resilience of life, encouraging audiences to reconsider their relationship with the environment. Through this synthesis of art and science, Ballengée establishes a practice that is as investigative as it is expressive, highlighting the ethical, emotional, and aesthetic dimensions of environmental awareness. ...

Various Small Fires (Los Angeles /Dallas /Seoul) began as a series of conversations with artists and curators in Esther Kim Varet’s Venice Beach kitchen while working on her doctoral dissertation. VSF debuted in Hollywood as an official gallery in 2015 with a roster of artists and its current Johnston MarkLee Architects-designed building. The Hollywood gallery contains three exhibition spaces, a unique sound corridor, and an outdoor gallery. VSF’s exhibition program explores several curatorial lines: climate, equality, and an international conversation. The gallery is known for offering artists debut shows, creating intergenerational conversations among the artists on its roster, and solidifying artists’ legacies within art history. In 2019, VSF opened a second location in the Hannam neighbourhood of Seoul, South Korea, followed recently this Spring by VSFs third outpost in Dallas, Texas. While Varet has very personal connections to both locations, they are also superlative art communities. These expansions emphasise the gallery’s commitment to innovation and global dialogue in the twenty-first century. In 2021, VSF became a member of the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA). ...