THE PAST IS PRESENT

FEATURING

BRYAN LEE TILFORD

A DEBUT SOLO EXHIBITION
16 MARCH - 13 APRIL 2024

Band of Vices is pleased to present THE PAST IS PRESENT, a survey of archived, historic, and new works by LA-based artist, Bryan Lee Tilford. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Bryan Lee Tilford has combined his dedication to art, music, aerospace, and automotive engineering, as well as his passion for history-making into a retrospective journey that spans 50+ years of artwork.

Bryan studied art at Cal State Northridge and toured the country in the blues-rock band led by Papa John Creach (formerly of Jefferson Airplane) for nearly 15 years. In addition, he has worked on landmark projects including contributions to the Space Shuttle, the engineering designs of Karma, Fisker, Rivian, and Tesla, and has been a gallery artist with his brother, Terrell, through Tilford Art Group, as well as Band of Vices. This is his first solo exploration with Band of Vices.

“I was about 12 or 13 years old when I first discovered my big brother Bryan’s drawings in our Mother, Vada Louise’s musty, mildewed garage. Opening a folder sparked my curiosity upon seeing my brother’s works. There were political drawings of Black and white soldiers in Vietnam, there were comic strips, studies of the anatomy, and then, his pièce derésistance, CLEO, based on the actress, Tamara Dobson’s portrayal of Cleopatra Jones, the namesake of the 70s blaxploitation movie. This original artwork would be the genesis of the art collecting journey and eventually the motivation to start Tilford Art Group, my first gallery and now, Band of Vices. 3 years ago we named our annex Vada’s Pinocatheca, after my Mother, Vada Louise Merriwether. It is only fitting that her firstborn exhibit in her space, curated by her baby boy.”

- Terrell Tilford, Creative Director