About Brinkley Messick

I was born and raised in North Carolina and attended Appalachian State University in Boone. There I studied Anthropology with a focus on Sustainable Development in Central America. My love for the out of doors and the natural world lead me west to Colorado in 2003 to lead horse packing trips for youth. I soon discovered Salida, CO and did the dirtbag seasonal shuffle for a few years, working/snowboarding at Monarch Mountain in the winters and mountain biking and building trails with the Southwest Conservation Corps in the warmer months. Through trail work I developed a connection to the San Luis Valley where I worked in partnership with the BLM and USFS managing a volunteer program leading stewardship projects in the Sangre De Cristo, Weminuche, La Garita and South San Juan Wilderness Areas and developing trail systems in Penitente Canyon, Del Norte, and around the San Luis Valley. I currently work for the Colorado Mountain Club where I continue to assist trails and conservation across the state.

My love for the landscapes and culture of the Rocky Mountain West and time spent exploring them is evident in my art and subject matter. My work is also heavily influenced by the folk art and folkway traditions of the Southern Appalachians, skateboard graphics, punk rock t-shirts, and gig posters. I do not paint on canvas but instead create paintable surfaces and assemblages from salvaged wood and other materials.