Adrian Burrell

Adrian Burrell (b. 1990, Oakland, CA) is an Oakland-based artist and storyteller, who utilizes photography, film, and site-specific installations to delve into the intricate intersections of race, class, gender, and intergenerational dynamics. His artistic lens converges on the exploration of kinship, diasporic narratives, and the nuanced relationship between place and belonging. Burrell’s series 'It’s After the End of the World, Don’t You Know That Yet?', examines storefront murals and signage in Oakland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Delving into nuanced themes of legacy and family dynamics, Burrell skillfully crafts narratives about Bay Area life, transcending the personal to stimulate broader discussions on the underlying tensions and injustices prevalent in urban environments. In this series, Burrell presents captivating portraits of his grandmother, mother, and sister against the vibrant backdrop of Oakland's murals. This project serves as a compelling call to action, drawing on Burrell's personal experiences with police brutality and prompting contemplation on our collective history and the trajectory of our future. 'Modernity Blues' becomes a visual portal into the emotional landscape of individuals navigating the complexities of identity, heritage, and the elusive concept of home, echoing the broader experiences of those who find themselves at the intersection of modernity and the search for cultural grounding. Burrell’s work has been featured at the SF Museum of Modern Art, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, SXSW, Photoville in New York, Pingyao International Photography Festival in China, BlackStar Film Festival, and in The New Yorker. Burrell was the S.F. Camerawork Juror’s Choice Award recipient (2019) and a YBCA Creative Cohort fellow (2021-22). He is also an alumnus of the highly coveted Black Rock Senegal Residency Program (2022). Burrell is a US Marine Corps veteran and graduated from San Francisco Art Institute with a BFA in film. He earned his MFA from the Stanford Department of Art & Art History, where he lectured and served as the Black Graduate Student Community Outreach Chair. San Francisco Modern Luxury has named Burrell as a Bay Area and National Artist to Know Now. He will be included in the upcoming group exhibition Black Gold at the For-Site Foundation in San Francisco opening June 6th as well as Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain at the Oakland Museum of California opening July 18th, 2025. Burrell lives and works in Oakland, CA.