A Meditative Escape

For Ellzey, the repetitive act of rolling paper serves as a meditative refuge amidst life’s chaos. As he diligently constructs each piece, he channels creativity while releasing daily stress. His work beckons viewers to connect with the emotional weight carried within each rolled element, inviting reflection and resonance.

1. Your background is quite diverse, spanning theater and architecture. How have these fields influenced your artistic practice, and do you find connections between them?

Architecture and theater both require discipline, dedication, creativity, craftsmanship and the ability to work with others. My art practice is a continuation of the lessons I learned from both of these fields. My pieces are the end products of a rigorous process of conception, planning, gathering, processing and execution. Creating a piece is very akin to designing and constructing a building. The pieces engage through color, form, rhythm and meaning, akin to the emotional experience of a theatrical performance.

2. You mention “conceptual craft” in your artistic statement. Can you elaborate on what this means to you and how it manifests in your work?

My pieces are not only conceived of as rolled paper compositions but also as commentary on selected themes. The selection of printed media to be rolled is directly tied to the subject creating a layer of meaning that infuses the piece. In a sense, the work is operating on two levels - one visual and the other subliminal. They function as works of art but also as repositories of the information contained within the printed documents.

3. The meticulous process of rolling paper seems integral to your art. Can you describe how this process serves as both a meditative practice and a form of expression?

My process is as important to me as the final work. Rolling paper becomes a ritual of quiet and focus that allows me the opportunity to pause and reflect on my work in a world filled with noise and distraction. The rolled paper module acts as my medium through form and color but also communicates the energy involved in its creation. The hand that rolled the paper and made the piece is evidenced and celebrated.

4. Research plays a significant role in your artistic process. Could you walk us through your approach to selecting themes and materials for a new project?

It varies. I usually think in terms of bodies of work, so a theme is typically very general. It could be a political issue that has captured my attention, an event, an emotion or simply a desire to push the limits of the medium. I work on a lot of commissions so, in those cases, the subject is presented to me. Commissions follow the same process as working on an architectural project in that I take the goals of a client and synthesize them with my own artistic sensibility. I love the give and take of my commission work and find it extremely stimulating and inspiring.

5. Looking to the future, are there any new themes or mediums you’re excited to explore in your upcoming work? What direction do you see your practice taking?

I'm very interested in exploding the scale of my work. To that end, I'm staging a one-man show at Crosstown Arts in Memphis that will open in October 2025. The galleries are enormous and present an opportunity that is both exciting and terrifying!

6. Get inspired!

INSTAGRAM: @brantleyellzey