Show Synopsis
Branded | Deconstructed by Jill Brandenburg showcases two sides of Jill’s abstract pop art: one rooted in commercialized cultural commentary, the other in cathartic nostalgia. Featuring Logos Are Art and the Broken Series, the show explores how familiar logos and pop culture icons shape our identity — and what happens when those symbols, like ourselves, begin to crack.
Logos Are Art highlights the strength and staying power of these symbols so deeply embedded in our culture that they’re instantly recognizable without context. In contrast, the Broken Series reimagines branding as art through a more personal lens — breaking apart many of those same symbols to reflect Jill’s journey as a graphic designer and survivor, revealing how childhood memories are often shaped by a skewed commercial vision.
Together, these collections create a powerful dialogue about memory, identity, and what it means to be both seen… and changed.
Show’s Artist Statement
Jill’s passion for art began in elementary school with a comic strip in her school paper and came to fruition after earning an Associate of Applied Arts Degree in 1991.
After surviving breast cancer in 2006, Jill turned to creating art for herself, using her years in graphic design to shape her distinct style of abstract pop art.
Her work is defined by two primary styles. One involves breaking apart logos and icons from pop culture and incorporating them into abstract paintings. What began as a rebellion against years of constraint in the corporate design world has evolved into a technique that evokes nostalgia. The other style serves as a homage to logos and icons so ingrained in society that they are instantly recognizable without context. This collection reflects the power of marketing and advertising on our collective consciousness.
Known as ‘Speaker Jill’ across social media, her artwork has been exhibited in Downtown Dallas, New York, Liverpool, Lisbon, Bali, and Beijing, with pieces held in private collections across Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.
About the Artist
Jill’s artwork explores the power of logos and icons — how they shape our memories, influence culture, and serve as visual timestamps of our lives. The Logos Are Art collection celebrates their artistry, while the Broken Series tests their strength by deconstructing them.
Her artistic process was reignited after my cancer diagnosis, when she realized she missed creating art that fed my soul — art that connected my memories to a canvas. She began channeling the decades she spent as a graphic designer into something she wanted to share with the world.
After two decades as a graphic designer, she create these pieces as both a rebuttal and a tribute. They counter every employer who told me, “Hurry up… don’t be so creative… it’s just a logo,” while celebrating the undeniable artistry behind branding. Every logo was born from a creative mind before it ever connected with a consumer.
The Broken Series takes this exploration further. Inspired by her own experiences — particularly my battle with breast cancer — it reflects the process of breaking apart, reshaping, and finding new meaning. These fractured logos mirror the brokenness I once felt, yet they remain recognizable, proving the resilience of both design and the human spirit.
Ultimately, her work is about nostalgia, connection, and transformation. Whether whole or fractured, these images are embedded in our collective consciousness, sparking memories and conversation.
You can read more about Jill Brandenburg and her work at her personal website https://speakerjillsart.com
Gallery information about the show can be seen at https://umbrella.gallery/branded-deconstructed