Brigid Tee

Brigid paints early, often at 4:30 a.m., when the world is quiet and her energy feels strongest. It’s in these early hours that she feels most energetic, powerful, and creative.

Themes of strong, powerful women have remained constant throughout her practice. Using body position, movement, and gesture, she explores the strength and individuality each woman carries.

Her inspiration comes from the women closest to her — her grandmother, mother, sister, friends, and teachers — as well as those she’s encountered throughout her life.

Each canvas holds a trace of them.

When she gets stuck on a painting, she forces herself to take a couple of days off and return to it later. This can be difficult, but when she comes back with fresh eyes, she can usually see exactly what needs to be done.

The response she has received over the years — particularly from women at galleries and art shows — is that they see themselves reflected in the figures she paints. If a woman can look at her work and recognize her own power and strength, Bridget feels she’s done what she set out to do.

She hopes women feel empowered when they encounter her art — that they recognize how beautiful, strong, and unique they are.

Outside the studio, she’s an avid reader, often finishing a book a week. One that has stayed with her over the past decade is The Artist, a reflection of her ongoing interest in the inner lives of creators.