Board Member
Branded Arts founder Warren Brand grew up in the art world. As the son of a vintage movie poster collector, Brand caught the collecting bug at a very young age. Now with over a decade of avid collecting under his belt, Brand’s personal collection boasts works from Takashi Murakami, Greg "Craola" Simkins, Banksy, and Shepard Fairey, to name a few. In 2009 Brand curated his first large scale art exhibition, featuring works from artists such as Audrey Kawasaki, Crash, Augustine Kofie, and Brandon Boyd. This impressive gathering of art world enthusiasts prompted Brand to form a multi-platform art driven special events company, Branded Arts, in 2010. With the inception of Branded Arts, Brand began hosting a series of unique events merging art with music and entertainment. These events also host a variety of charitable associations, including The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, UNICEF, and Vista Del Mar Child & Family Services. Branded Arts' social reach is massive, drawing trendsetters and cultural tastemakers that bridge several communities, including the art, music, and philanthropic worlds. Over the last 5 years, Branded Arts has produced and curated over 100 public mural projects around Los Angeles. The “Branded Arts Building” at 8810 Washington Blvd. in Culver City is their most renowned project, which has received extensive media coverage including a feature in the LA Times. Branded Arts recently completed a group of mural projects at THE RESERVE LA, the new 20 acre creative campus in Playa Vista, home to the new offices of Microsoft and Sony PlayStation. The Reserve won the 2014 Best Office Project Award from the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Going forward, his company’s aim is to commission famous artists to paint public murals at local properties, developments, youth centers, and schools. The goal is to send an inspirational message with these art projects, to give people a creative outlet, and to always display positive imagery. With public school budget cutbacks significantly impacting art programs around the country, he feels that it is up to independent organizations like Branded Arts to help facilitate and introduce art to young people. Now a staple of the LA urban contemporary art scene, Warren Brand has established himself as a major art collector, curator and tastemaker. He and his team have an overall vision built upon a substantial roster of contributing artists and multiple artistic platforms that will take their projects to even greater heights.