About the Artist

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From a very young age I have had a special affinity for animals. As the daughter of a veterinarian, I have grown to love and appreciate the creatures that enrich our lives. After graduating from the University of New Mexico with a BAFA in Studio Arts, I began my career as an oil painter. I frequently paint horses, landscapes, wildlife, and pet portraits. However, I have found much more fulfillment as a mixed media artist in recent years. My unique beaded skulls draw influence from patterns found among the world's indigenous cultures, but as a resident of the southwestern United States, I am particularly inspired by Native American pottery and textiles. Through my artwork, I seek to honor the animals whose skulls I use, as well as the cultural influences of my home.

Education

2010 - Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art - Art Studio. University of New Mexico.

2011 - Received training in art conservation at New Mexico State University from August 2010 to December 2011.

2018 - Bachelor of Arts - Business Administration. Fort Lewis College.

Awards

2014 - Artist Choice Award (for beaded skulls). New Mexico Arts & Crafts Fair. June 28, 2014.

2017 - 1st place in the original art category of the Colorado State Taxidermy Championship Competition. June 3, 2017.

2017 - Best Mixed Media (for beaded skulls). New Mexico Arts & Crafts Fair. June 24, 2017.

2017 - Honorable Mention at "Human/Nature," the Durango Art Center's annual members show. October 27, 2017.

Best Mixed Media award. New Mexico Arts & Crafts Fair 2017.

Best Mixed Media award. New Mexico Arts & Crafts Fair 2017.

Curatorial & Collaborative Projects

Artists of the Railroad Exhibition D&SNGRR Museum August 19-26, 2016 “Artists of the Railroad” showcased the creative talent at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The exhibit was a curatorial collaboration between Briana and the D&SNGRR museum curator, Jeff Ellingson.

Katsi is “Life”: A Show of Hopi and Zuni Katsina Dolls Toh-Atin Gallery September 17 - October 3, 2021 From July 2018 to July 2021, Briana restored a collection of over 40 antique Hopi and Zuni kachinas for Toh-Atin Gallery. Between June and July 2021, Briana collaborated with Marion Cox, a Master’s degree candidate from Bard Graduate School in New York City. Marion curated a special, museum-quality exhibition for this historic collection as part of her Master’s program.

IMLS Inspire! Grant Project Animas Museum September 1, 2022 - July 8, 2023 The La Plata County Historical Society contracted Briana to conserve over 75 pieces of Ancestral Pueblo pottery and other artifacts within the Animas Museum collection. LPCHS was awarded an Inspire! grant through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to create a public online database featuring their Ancestral Pueblo collection and expand their current Native American exhibit to include the conserved objects.

From This Earth: Ancestral Pueblo Pottery Center of Southwest Studies - Fort Lewis College May 10, 2023 Contributing members of the IMLS Inspire! grant project (Mona Charles, Patty Joy, Susan Jones, and Briana Paxton) gave a presentation on the project to the San Juan Basin Archaeological Society.

City of Durango Lodgers’ Tax Arts & Culture Fund Animas Museum March 15 - December 1, 2023 The La Plata County Historical Society was awarded an LTAC grant from the City of Durango for further conservation of the Animas Museum collections. Briana continued to assist the museum in its efforts to conserve collections of historic Pueblo pottery and any other historic artifacts that required conservation.

“Commanding Gaze” as cover art.

“Commanding Gaze” as cover art.

Public Art Installations

2018 - Gaylord Rockies Public Art Installation

A collaboration with Local Language, Inc. for a public art installation housed within the Gaylord Rockies resort and convention center. Two of my beaded deer skulls are featured in two out of three "gallery wall" displays of Colorado artists' work.

Beaded Fallow deer skull, “Agate,” displayed on the first level of the Gaylord Rockies convention center.

Beaded Fallow deer skull, “Agate,” displayed on the first level of the Gaylord Rockies convention center.

Beaded Mule deer skull, “Kulkulkan II,” displayed on the third level of the Gaylord Rockies convention center.

Beaded Mule deer skull, “Kulkulkan II,” displayed on the third level of the Gaylord Rockies convention center.