Paris Brosnan grew up painting alongside his father, Pierce Brosnan (AKA James Bond), who’s been making work as a self-taught artist since the ’80s. Los Angeles served as the perfect place for a young Paris to get inspired, skateboarding freely around the West Coast and initially diving into the arts by way of spray paint — his “first love,” as he tells PAPER.
Today, Paris’ work has developed into big, free-flowing paintings that explode with color and unruly expression. “My work is bold and vibrant, oftentimes energetic and sometimes overpowering,” the 23-year-old visual artist and filmmaker explains. Although his creative process is different each time, Paris is predominantly influenced by music: “I love to let songs that I’m listening to carry the vibe of the work,” he says, citing Afrobeats as a favorite.
Take, for instance, Paris’ 2024 paintings Pas Mal or Late to the Party, both of which are available to purchase on Cohart as part of PAPER’s new series of curated drops on the art marketplace. Paris layers words on top of shapes, almost chaotically, as if there are endless discoveries to uncover the longer you look at one canvas. It makes sense, then, that Paris finds it difficult to know when a work’s done: “I often go back to paintings even after I’ve finished them,” he says, adding that a “piece can take anywhere from a day to a month” until completion.
Ahead of our interview with Paris on PAPER’s TikTok live September 19 at 7 PM EST, we caught up with him to learn a bit more about his background and what’s next. “Growth is simply just more painting,” he says, simply. “I don’t ever want to stop painting.”
You famously grew up in a very creative family. From your memory, what was your earliest experience with this type of visual art?
Growing up, we would take family trips to various art museums in Europe and in the states. I fondly remember going to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and seeing Picasso’s and Gauguin’s works, and being so inspired — that as soon as I got home, I’d paint. My dad has been a painter since the ’80s and has a vast portfolio of work, which he has been showing lately. We paint together and bond over it. He always told me the key was to practice by constantly drawing straight lines and shapes.
How did your dad influence this interest?
Watching him vastly inspired and influenced me. My dad is a self-taught artist. I would also say that looking at a lot of art books in my formative years and adolescence exposed me to a lot of different art styles and helped develop my style. I try to not look at anything or plan anything while I paint. Usually, I paint a similar narrative over and over; familiar characters and faces around colorful shapes. I guess they’re reminiscent of my dreams or just come from my imagination. It is truly therapeutic putting paint down and finding your flow. I enjoy working with oil sticks, they’re like big crayons.
Was painting always your preference?
Spray paint was initially my first love; it’s so fun to work with and there’s so many ways to use it. I remember watching Exit Through the Gift Shop and Style Wars as a kid, and all I wanted to do was get my hand on some spray paint, that is if my mom would allow me.
How do you think growing up in Los Angeles has influenced your art, if at all?
There’s so much culture and arts in Los Angeles. Many legendary artists have come to LA to paint and be inspired. The various sceneries and landscapes you can be inspired from out here are endless, from beaches in Malibu, deserts in Joshua tree, mountains in Mammoth, the streets of downtown LA and everywhere in between. There’s always something to pull inspiration from. Growing up as a skateboarder and surfer definitely inspired my style. It was all I wanted to do when I was a kid, and through it I was exposed to great art and culture, which I’m very grateful for.
How would you describe the work that you make?
My work is bold and vibrant, oftentimes energetic and sometimes overpowering. I love color, but I’m also working on toning it down. I started making art for myself and along the way people came to enjoy it — that was just a bonus. My work in particular may not be for everyone, but art is for everyone. There are no limits or expectations to what you should do and can do. I have so much fun painting; it’s always a special moment when I look back on all the work I’ve made, and see how the style and composition has evolved.
What’s the process, from beginning to end, for one of your paintings? How long does it typically take to complete a piece?
The process is different each time, but it usually revolves around music. I love to let songs that I’m listening to carry the vibe of the work. I love Afrobeats in particular and I’ve painted many of my works to it. Acquiring canvases, working with various materials, jumping around from piece to piece and enjoying the process as a whole, because that’s why we do it: for the love of it. A piece can take anywhere from a day to a month and that can depend on many factors. I often go back to paintings even after I’ve finished them.
At what point do you know you’re done with something? I’d imagine you could keep layering or adding to the canvases, based on your style.
Knowing when you’re done can be tricky. Sometimes it’s good to ask peers and sometimes it’s best to just paint until your heart is content.
Who’re some artists or other creatives you’re inspired by?
Artists that inspire me are the ones having the most fun painting and creating. The ones that do it for themselves and no one else.
How do you hope the public receives your work?
I hope they feel something. I want those looking at my art to feel energized and happy. I think if art can evoke any sort of emotion, then it is effective.
What does growth look like for you, as an artist? Where do you want to see your work go?
Growth is simply just more painting. I don’t ever want to stop painting. Art is kind of like golf: it’s a lifelong commitment and you never really master it, but maybe that’s just me. I plan to continue painting and showing work around the world. Art has opened up new doors for me and changed my life in ways I could never imagine. As artists, we all owe ourselves to the craft. It has always been there for us when we needed it most, and never judged us or our abilities.
What do you love about the Cohart app?
There’s an endless supply of incredible art on this platform and it’s amazing seeing it become accessible. It’s a platform for discovery, finding up-and-coming artists, unique work and inspiration. Whether you’re a painter, a collector or just someone who appreciates art, there’s something for everyone.
Photos courtesy of Paris Brosnan
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