Brett Marcus Cook

ARTIST SPOTLIGHTS are back with a vengence 🎨 🔦 and what better way to start the year off strong than by interviewing our newest member of our Holler party 🦖 Brett Marcus Cook! 

Tell us a bit about who you are, where you grew up, and your background getting into comics, kaijus, and illustration!

Brett: I typically describe myself as a trans non-binary artist, dancer, kaiju enthusiast, and anxious naturist, which I guess sums things up pretty well. I grew up on superhero cartoons, Godzilla movies, and the Power Rangers, and I still own the first issue of Spider-Man I ever got.

How has Appalachia inspired your work & what is your favorite part of living in Bristol?

I started drawing at a very young age, with my earliest art memory being copying pirate ship drawings that my dad made for me. I'm where I am today because once I started, nobody had the sense to tell me to stop.

I was, admittedly, one of those kids who thought this area sucked and I didn't really come around to it and start incorporating Appalachian elements into my work until college. A big part of that was seeing what my peers were doing, meeting new folks, and my curiosity developed into a real love for the mountains and woods over time. I've recognized it as a big part of who I am!

I've really enjoyed watching Bristol change over the course of my life, so much of which is due to the efforts of people I've gotten to know. If you know how to look, there are cool new things to see everywhere!

What are some consistent themes in your pieces you hope resonate with the viewer?

I've recently determined that my goal as an artist and person is for people to recognize, accept, and be their authentic selves, as comfortable in their own skin as they can be, whatever that looks like. I do a lot of personal work in the hopes that people see themselves in it. If I can help encourage people to try to create things with their own hands and with each other, even better. Also I just want to spread my love of giant monsters!

Have you noticed any interesting quirks or behaviors among people shopping at HollerHouse—or is there anything in particular you’re curious to observe while at the helm?

It's still early days, but it's exciting to see people pick up my own work, or something made by a good friend who I can gush about. Meeting people who are real fans of the shop and the works inside really energizes me.

Shoutout some exciting events you’ll be taking part in / looking forward to in the coming months!

I'm leading a free figure drawing workshop with my Embodied Art Dance group on February 26th at the Bristol Public Library! I'll be at ETSUcon on March 7th and 8th in Johnson City, TN, and on March 20th I'll be hosting another figure drawing session at Adoration Studio in Bristol with some members of Black Shawl Cabaret modeling. I hope to get to do even more figure drawing sessions as the year continues!