Along The Way: Transforming the Traditional: Brandon Sadler

Fu Qiumeng Fine Art, New York, is pleased to present Along The Way: Transforming the Traditional, marking the New York City debut of Atlanta-based multi-disciplinary artist Brandon Sadler. Through a thoughtful blend of assemblage, calligraphy, and expressive ink painting, Sadler explores the rich traditions of East Asian art, reinterpreting them through the lens of his personal and cultural experiences. This exhibition highlights Sadler’s evolving journey of artistic discovery, bridging past and present to invite viewers into a dialogue on the interconnection of body, mind, and spirit across time and space.

Sadler’s practice is inspired by a diverse array of influences, including graffiti, illustration, and an ongoing study of East Asian art forms—particularly ink calligraphy and woodblock prints. His approach is a sincere inquiry, weaving a dynamic tapestry of cross-cultural exchange and human connection. Across three primary series—assemblage, calligraphy, and lotus painting—Sadler traces a path of exploration from the tangible to the intangible, emphasizing his central belief that nothing is disconnected.

This assemblage painting presents an abandoned altar layered with prayers and offerings, reflecting themes of faith, spirituality, and the uncertainty surrounding divine presence. It contemplates the ownership of one’s spirituality and shifts the focus from defining God to recognizing the individual’s role in the spiritual journey. Incorporating salvaged materials sourced from local warehouses, the artwork merges aged and new elements, including old window glass, LED lamp and hand-printed woodblocks, creating a harmonious visual narrative. The paper components are inspired by Senjafuda, traditional Japanese votive slips, treated to evoke a sense of time and connection to ancient practices. The piece suggests that perhaps the one we seek is already present, just on the other side of the door, guiding us toward awareness and helping us find the Way.

Drawing from his graffiti roots, Sadler approaches calligraphy with a unique perspective, viewing art as a dynamic release of mindful energy. By merging the principles of Chinese calligraphy—stroke-shape, stroke-order, and flow with the English alphabet, he transforms the brush into a meditative instrument to explore the fluid interplay between form, meaning, and gesture. The single-character compositions embody moments of mindfulness and creative experimentation, with ink and paper becoming conduits for his exploration of inner energy—an intimate dialogue between the mind and a higher plane. 

The text of this work reads from right to left, top to bottom: “How can I find you? Who do you turn to? How can I find you?” describing a conversation with God or a higher power. Sadler’s calligraphy began in a formal and traditional framework, as he studied master works by Wang Xizhii and Mi Fu for the understanding of flow, balance, structure of Chinese calligraphy. Moreover, avant-garde artists such as Wang Dongling and Yuichi Inoue inspired Brandon to experiment beyond the confines of tradition. The resulting work thus released into a myriad of expressions, as Sadler commented, “I’ve begun to prioritize how I write and the sensory language I communicate – feeling, over legibility to the viewer.” Every single English word fits into Chinese character structure, which creates a unique symbol bound by a square format, together signifying the tea leaves in a bowl of tea according to which one gains insight on their life path, as well as the solitary space of one’s spiritual development while talking to their idea of a higher power.