Heavy Heart

The subject of Brand’s portrait is her friend Stacey. When Stacey found out she was pregnant in 2022 she was excited and full of Joy. Stacey then discovered that she had an ectopic pregnancy and that her baby was growing outside her womb. Around one or two in every one hundred pregnancies are ectopic and unfortunately, an ectopic pregnancy is fatal for the fetus. Stacey decided to share her pain with others, knowing that there were others out there who may have experienced a similar pain to hers. This choice inspired the creation of this painting, as Brand viewed Stacey as authentic and resilient in a time of extreme hardship.

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Alanah Ellen Brand (she/her) (b. 1991, Australia) is a contemporary portrait painter working on Dja Dja Wurrung country (Bendigo, Victoria). Brand obtained her Masters in Visual Art (2019) from Latrobe University Bendigo. Brand has been a finalist in the Archibald Prize, Kennedy Prize, the 12th Prospect Portrait Prize, The Bluethumb Art Prize, The Tatiara Art Prize, The Percivals and a Semi-Finalist in The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize. Brand has attended Art schools/workshops with renowned painters David Kassan, Shana Levenson, Robin Eley, Jessica Le Clec and Solomon Kammer who became Brand’s mentor and the subject of her 2023 Archibald Prize entry.