An Inspired Chat with Jeffie Brewer of East Texas

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jeffie Brewer. Check out our conversation below.

Jeffie, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’m not strolling along some peaceful path. I’m being dragged, kicking and screaming, down the path. Success has a funny way of choosing the direction and pace for me, whether I think I’m ready or not. I’ll fight it, resist it, try to wander off into the weeds, but the work keeps pulling me forward. In that struggle, I discover the surprises, the fun, and the joy that fuel the work I make.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I make big, bright, playful sculptures: bunnies, birds, bulls, and just about anything else that wanders through my head. I grew up in a scrapyard in East Texas, surrounded by piles of metal, and that early chaos shaped the way I see and make things. My work is flat, colorful, and a little absurd, like cartoons that jumped off the page and landed in the real world.

For 20 years I was a college professor, taking myself way too seriously. Now I get to do the opposite, and it’s a lot more fun. What makes the work special is the way people connect to it. Kids stick their heads through the cut-out eyes, families take photos, people laugh, wonder, or just stop for a moment in their busy day.

Right now I’m juggling a dozen public art projects across the country—parks, trails, gardens, developments, and galleries—and each one is a chance to add a little joy to the landscape. I want my work to be approachable, memorable, and fun. If it makes someone smile, even for a moment, then it’s done its job.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I was about eight years old, standing in the junkyard where I grew up. Across Highway 155, there was an old gas station, the kind of place that sold candy and Cokes. One afternoon it started raining, but the rain stopped right at the road. On my side, it stayed dusty and dirty, and across the street, everything was washed clean and new. I remember just standing there, staring at that sharp line where the two worlds met. It was the first time I felt beauty without being able to explain it… like the world was showing me something I wasn’t old enough to understand yet.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, I’ve given up more than once. There were long stretches when I was artistically fallow. I took a year off and built myself a house, I helped raise a nephew from four to five, and I played a lot of golf. For many years early in my career I was just going through the motions and making work for everyone but myself. It felt hollow, like I was chasing other people’s expectations instead of my own curiosity. Eventually I realized the point was much simpler: make the art I actually enjoy making. Once I figured that out, although it took me a very long time, it all clicked into place.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Not exactly. Over the years I’ve become more of an introvert, even a bit of a hermit. Most of the time I’m happiest in the studio, welding, drawing, and working in silence. The extrovert—the goof, the version people see at events or openings—is real too, but it only shows up when it has to. It feels a little like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, two sides of the same person taking turns. When I do have to be “on,” it wears me out, so I keep my outings to a minimum each year.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Sometimes, yes—but often the opposite. When I’ve set a thoughtful goal, like getting work into a specific museum or reaching a career milestone, achieving it has been deeply satisfying. Those moments feel earned. But of course, not everything lands that way. Some things ring hollow once you get there, or they turn into a pain in the ass to maintain. In the end, I’ve found that setting goals is the only way to stay steady and has definitely added to my success.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
David Kimling and Sarah Shelton

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