Steve Brudniak

Steve Brudniak (born April 9, 1961, Topeka, Kansas) is an American artist, actor, filmmaker and musician. Known for highly crafted, unusual assemblage sculpture, imbued with transcendental and unique scientific elements; his visual art career spans over four decades, with work in the permanent collections of several art museums in United States. His acting and film endeavors began at the age of 13. Some notable roles include pivotal characters in Richard Linklater's Waking Life and Robert Rodriguez's Hypnotic. Brudniak was also a founding member of Spiny Normen and other psychedelic music groups from 1977 ‒ present and operated Victorian Recording Studio during the mid 1980s. He spent his elementary, high school years, and early 20's in Houston, Texas, eventually moving to Austin, Texas where he currently lives.

Art Noumenon Objectifying in Four Parts (2005), assemblage with emanating reflection optical lens, 48 x 19 x 6 in. (collection of Catarina Sigerfoos, Austin, Texas) The Vagus Leviathan (2008), assemblage with photograph, fiber optic lens and kinetic mechanism, 50 x 21 x 6 in. (Collection of John Little) Ontological Catastrophe (2019), assemblage with antique electronic test equipment and engraved cast iron, carved phenolic and ABS plastics. 51 x 31 x 7 in. In the Wake of the Exodus Toward the Breach in the Gate (2018), assemblage with ultraviolet light, glass optics, antique bronze fish, brass plate, antique cast iron, carved phenolic, 4 million year old fish fossil, colored jojoba oil and brass snake chain. 82 x 33 x 8 in.

Like a sign at the entrance to a splendid nature preserve, the information is a poor abstract for the ineffable. A dream retold will come off as boring description, but to be inside the dream is inexplicably rich. (Steve Brudniak, 2023)

During the 1980s Brudniak was an active member of the Houston Alternative Art scene and represented by four different galleries during this time. In 2008 his Astrogeneris Mementos became the first assemblage sculptures exhibited in outer space, taken aboard the International Space Station by entrepreneur and astronaut Richard Garriott.

Brudniak's assemblages engage the phenomena of consciousness through applications of experimental phenomenal media, incorporating, often pioneering, unconventional and scientific elements such as high voltage electricity, gyro mechanics, combustion, ultraviolet, laser, optical and fiber optic technologies, as well as the oldest known geological and living preservations. His 1987 Imogene Icon (collection of San Antonio Museum of Art) is considered the earliest application of a Tesla coil incorporated into a permanent sculpture and his 1991 sculpture The Saturated Well of Baptism, the first to use magnetic ferrofluid in a sculptural context.

Filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro writes, “Each of Steve Brudniak's artifacts is a relic from a time that never was, and each of them holds a secret. Through superb craftsmanship and a keen eye for design, Brudniak integrates science and technology into his sculptures: ...groundbreaking uses of retro tech shock, produce lightning, induce hypnosis, reflect impossible images and light and produce sound through interaction. Liquids miraculously come alive. Other works amaze merely with their unprecedented content and exquisite form. Brudniak fabricates, manipulates or re-shapes found materials into absolutely coherent, powerful works of art.” Arts writer and curator Anjali Gupta observes, “His explorations of the self and the subconscious become deliberately and elaborately inscrutable vaults for the unknowable. He invalidates the deductive reasoning associated with scientific hypotheses in his conceptual approach but mollifies it in the aesthetic outcome. Brudniak tilts referentiality without mollifying it; rather, he encrypts it.”

His Treatise, Saving Beauty: The Painful Rebirthing of Visual Aesthetic in Contemporary Art, is a scolding commentary on the diminishing importance of visual beauty and craft in postmodern, contemporary art.

Art Books and Documentaries The monograph, The Science of Surrealism - Assemblage Sculpture of Steve Brudniak was published in 2013 documenting thirty years of the artist's career in photos, essays and commentary. It was edited by Anjali Gupta, with a foreword by Guillermo del Toro and is in 99 public, university, and museum libraries worldwide. Books and documentaries featuring Brudniak's work are listed in the bibliography below.

Art books Bunch, Robert Craig. Dreams, Visions, Other Worlds: Interviews with Texas Artists. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2024 Webbernick, Gary. 100 Texas Sculptors. Austin, TX: Texas Sculpture Group, 2024 Bunch, Robert Craig, The Art of Found Objects: Interviews with Texas Artists. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2016. Chemeketa College Art Faculty. Art for Everyone, Salem, Oregon: Chemeketa Press, 2016. Gupta, Anjali ed., The Science of Surrealism - Assemblage Sculpture of Steve Brudniak. Austin TX: Merrid Zone, 2013 Del Toro, Guillermo and Zicree, Marc. Guillermo Del Toro - Cabinet of Curiosities. London, England: Titan Books, 2013 Brenner, Wayne Alan. Minerva's Wreck: Austin Arts Anthology, Austin TX: Café Armageddon, 2010. Branwyn, Gareth. Device Volume 2: Reconstructed, San Diego, CA: IDW Publishing, July 2009. Reese, Becky Duval. Texas 100: Selections from the El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso, TX: El Paso Museum of Art Foundation, 2006. Otten, William G. and Michelle W. Locke. The Legacy Continues, Corpus Christi, TX: Art Museum of South Texas, 2006. Morton, Jennifer. Belong: A TV Journalist's Search for Urban Culture: from Beirut to Bamako, from Havana to Ho Chi Minh City: Stories and Photos. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Insomniac Press, 2004. Greene, Alison de Lima. Texas: 150 Works from the Museum of Fine Arts. NY, NY: Harry N. Abrams, October 1, 2000. Burns, Gerald. Shorter Poems. Normal, IL: Dalkey Archive Press, May 1993. Hendricks, Patricia D. and Becky Duval Reese. A Century of Sculpture in Texas 1889-1989. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1989. McEvilley, Thomas. Another Reality. Houston, TX: Hooks-Epstein Galleries, June 1989.

Art documentary Ulteriaphobia: The Art of Steve Brudniak. Dir. Luke Savisky. Austin, TX: Klaus und Hans Productions, 1995, Video documentary. Indie Live Austin. “Steve Brudniak: Interview with Diana Brochin.” Austin, TX: ACTV, January 2010. Steve Brudniak – Noumenon. Dir. Wiley Wiggins. Austin, TX: 2008, Video documentary. Steve Brudniak. Dir. Andrew Nourse. Austin, TX: Andy Nourse Productions, 1998 Video documentary.

Film Brudniak began acting in and directing his own short films at the age of 13 (See Actor Website under external links below for complete filmography)

Filmography

Selected films Steve Brudniak with Ben Affleck on the set of Hypnotic as the Texas Ranger.

Year Film Role Director Notes 2024 Stateside Supporting Zach Machen 2024 Open Marriage Lead Zach Machen 2023 Imitator of Everything Lead Logan Kelly 2023 Lost Soulz Supporting Katherine Propper 2023 Hypnotic Supporting Robert Rodriguez 2022 It's Alive Lead Zach Machen 2022 Walter Lead Jonathan Dryden-Jaffe 2021 Man Seeking Man Lead Travis White 2021 Birds Lead Katherine Propper 2021 No Loss No Gain Lead Christian Rousseau 2020 Pulpit Lead Zach Machen 2020 Pizzagate Massacre Support 2020 Christ Almighty Lead Zach Machen 2019 Godforsaken Lead 2019 Robert Jr. Lead Thomas Raker 2018 The Iron Orchard Supporting Ty Roberts 2018 The Last Supper Lead Zach Machen 2018 Musa Malvada Lead Liz Tabish 2018 Red 11 Lead Robert Rodriguez 2018 Cecelia Lead Liz Tabish 2018 The Iron Orchard Supporting Ty Roberts 2017 Calling Lead Artemis Anastasiadou Austin Film Festival Selection 2017 Bonafide Beauty Supporting Samantha Schell 2017 The Long Road Home Lead Alex Winker 2017 Watchers Supporting Amadeus Gonzalez 2016 Psychotropical Lead Liz Tabish 2016 Clamps Supporting Zach Scott, Jill Bailey 2016 Comfort Lead KC Coker 2016 The Bridge Lead Colton Constanzo 2016 The Dying Light Lead Jack Nassif 2016 Promises Supporting Melody Brooke 2015 Bunny and Non-Bunnyness Lead Ben Blanchard Cannes Selection 2015 Ghost Valley Lead Georgetown Ray Associate Producer 2015 Little Green Men Supporting Rob Larkin 2015 Door to Door Lead Jarrod Yerkes 2015 Wartorn Lead Harold Fisch 2014 Carjacker Supporting Taylor Camarot 2014 Bully Bully Lead DeRae Logan 2014 Bye Bye Blackbird Supporting Gaia Bosignore 2013 Moments the Go Supporting Eric Frodsham Co-Director, Co-Producer 2012 Camp Kickitoo Supporting Rick Sternberg 2002 Absinthe Supporting Marta Banda Producer 2001 Waking Life Supporting Richard Linklater Rotoscoped 1998 Two for Texas Featured Rod Hardy Uncredited 1997 Parts of a Woman Lead Kathleen Collins

Selected television Still from Empire of Shadows as Sen. Jeremy Johnson (TV pilot).

Year TV Show Role Director Notes 2023 Empire of Shadows Lead Bejan Faramarz TV pilot 2019 The Son Guest Star AMC Series 2018 West World Interactive Experience 2018 Rebel Without a Crew Self Robert Rodriguez Series 2017 Annihilator Guest Star Julio Quintana Series Teaser 2017 Is Game of Throngs a Soap Opera Guest Star Rooster Teeth 2017 Murder Made Me Famous Guest Star Brad Osborne Series 2016 Alabama Shakes Principal Zach Scott, Rachel Immaraj Spec. Music Video 2016 Good Field Principal Zach Scott Music Video 2004 Sir Richard Self BBC Television Documentary 1995 Austin Self City TV Documentary

Selected voice over

Year Title Role Director Notes 2024 Here Ya Go Bud Various Characters Wes Archer Animation 2023 Capitol Ranch Real Estate Principal capitolranch.com Commercial 2022 Jaston Williams, I Saw the Lights Principal Block House Spot 2022 Hard West II Principal Creative Forms Games SA Video Game 2021 Mido Lotto Principal Lemon Light Commercial 2017 KingsIsle Various Characters KingsIsle Entertainment Video Game 2016 Redeemer Various Characters Gambitious Video Game 1985 Jack Mack and Rad Boy Go! Various Characters Wes Archer Animation, Sound, Score

Music In 1976 he and guitar player Gerry Diaz formed the psychedelic rock group Spiny Normen and recorded an album at the Alvin Community College which was released four decades later on RidingEasy Records in 2018, with Brudniak on keyboards, flute, vocals, and some drums tracks. In 1981 he opened the Victorian Recording Studio in Houston, recording many of Houston's alternative, metal, folk, skate and punk groups.

Discography Year Band Title Label Notes 2020 Psylobison Trancedelica www.psylobison.com Recorded 2008-20 2018 Spiny Normen Spiny Normen RidingEasy Recorded 1979 2016 Spiny Normen The Bell Park Loon (on Brown Acid: The Second Trip, compilation album) RidingEasy Recorded 1979 2010 Spiny Normen The Sound of Younger Times (on Brining It All Back Again, compilation album) Shroom Angel Records Recorded 1979