Jay Brabant is of Cree descent and the son of Gene Brabant from Victoria BC. During his formative years, Gene joined the artist collective at the Arts of the Raven studio and gallery and the Thunderbird Park studio at the Royal British Columbia Museum. These two studios played a critical role in the development of may artists and had mandates that included public education, training of new artists, retail sales, and answering to international commissions. Jay followed in his father’s footsteps, committing at an early age to becoming an artist He would begin marketing his work through Arts of the Raven and later through galleries in Seattle and the lower mainland. Trained initially in the Kwak-waka’waw style, he joined his father in becoming a student of the art form exploring many styles and dedicating himself to understanding the paint and carving techniques of the historic masters. His work is known for sharp, deep cuts, crisp painting and mask dressing that honours historic examples of mask making. The use of copper and the crown are both references to the wealth and status of chiefs.

Gary Wyatt