(In)Sights: the Eye Sees The I
Brenno Kenji + quinn mcnichol
Jan. 31 - Mar. 21
Hours
Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m.-2 p.m
Sunday: 1-5 p.m.
Closed: Feb. 17, Feb. 21
Location
Edmonds College Art Gallery, Lynnwood Hall, Third Floor, 20000 68th Ave. W, Lynnwood, WA
Reception
2:30-4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31
Artist Biography | brennokenji.com
Brenno Kenji (b. 1981) is an artist, educator, and scholar whose work bridges the disciplines of literature, philosophy, and visual art.
"My approach to art is grounded in curiosity, experimentation, and discovery—principles that guide not only my creative practice but also my broader intellectual pursuits," said Kenji. "Painting is an intuitive, intellectual, and creative process for me, one that reflects my interdisciplinary background in literature, art, and philosophy.
"A painting, much like a novel or a system of thought, is a dynamic constellation of elements—color, value, and shape—interacting in meaningful ways. No element exists in isolation; there's no part without a whole, and no whole without the parts that constitute it. This delicate balancing act mirrors the dynamics of the world we inhabit. Like literature and philosophy, art is a way to apprehend, articulate, and express both the world around us and our place within it."
Born in Brazil, he earned a Law degree at UFPE before moving to the United States to pursue advanced studies in the humanities. He holds a Ph.D. in Literature from UC Berkeley with a Designated Emphasis in Critical Theory. Brenno taught literature and philosophy at the University of Southern California (2014–2021) and drawing and painting at Loyola Marymount University (2020–2022). After relocating to Washington in 2022, he began teaching at Gage Academy in Seattle, and joined the faculty of Edmonds College in 2024.
Alongside his academic work, Kenji trained with renowned mentors such as Sunny Apinchapong-Yang, Steve Huston, and Mian Situ, who helped shape his approach to painting as an inherently dialogical activity: a discipline deeply intertwined with other forms of expression.
"The works I selected for this exhibition occupy a unique intersection within this network of relationships. Originally created as teaching demonstrations, each piece encapsulates a specific time and space—the spacetime of learning and teaching. These works weave together a succession of moments and a plurality of perspectives: the artist meeting the subject, the teacher engaging with the student, and the shared encounter between subject and artist, the now of intersubjectivity crystallized within an image that unfolds across time."
Artist Biography | quinnmcnichol.com
Born in 1989, quinn mcnichol grew up in Glenside, Pa. During their high school years they engaged in independent study with Philadelphia artist Marcia Jones, and earned a BFA in Fine Art from Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in 2012. They have since participated in a number of programs and residencies including the Emerging Artist in Residence (EAR) program at Millersville University, Visual Arts at Chautauqua Institution (VACI), Vermont Studio Center and Mount Gretna School of Art (MGSoA). In addition to these formal studies, quinn spent a summer visiting Romanian artist Alice Schwager in her home studio to explore spiritual art therapies, expanding their emotional perception of their creative practice.
"In the studio, the act of drawing, painting, carving, cutting, shaping, and gluing is a way to bridge my daily fears and anxieties with a dreaming, playful mind," said mcnichol. "This brings me to a settled space, where I feel able to uproot and examine my lived or inherited sensations and experiences. I imagine art to be a regenerative, healing magic."
In 2021, mcnichol earned their MFA from the University of Washington’s School of Art + Art History + Design in Seattle, Wash. Post-graduation they traveled extensively around the continental US and Mexico, participating in residencies at El Sur in Tlalpan CDMX and Wonder Domes in Wonder Valley Calif. quinn currently lives in Seattle, Wash. and is a member of SOIL, an artist-run gallery located in Pioneer Square.
Exhibition Description
“(In)Sights: the Eye Sees The I” showcases Brenno Kenji’s and quinn mcnichol’s diverse works. They are two of the Edmonds College Art Department’s newest faculty members.
The show compellingly juxtaposes their distinct artistic practices, inviting viewers into a dialogue that spans multiple perspectives and approaches. Their works, from life drawings to paintings and mixed-media installations, create a rich tapestry of ideas, forming a dynamic, multi-layered conversation about identity, perception, insight, and creativity.
The exhibition will be open from Jan. 31 to March 21.