There’s something quietly powerful about the way artists talk about their work when they’re not trying to “sell” it, when they’re just sitting across from someone, swapping stories, connecting dots, and realizing, maybe for the first time out loud, how everything led them here.
That’s exactly the feeling of Inside the Frame Podcast, Episode 72, featuring Kriss Brennen.
Following the Thread
Kriss doesn’t tell her story like a straight line. It’s more like a series of turns that only make sense in hindsight.
She’s always loved art. But for decades, that passion lived alongside a career in electronics. It wasn’t until a company buyout (the kind of life moment that feels disruptive at first) that everything shifted. She took a severance, went back to school, and leaned fully into what had been there all along. From there, things didn’t just “click”. They evolved.
Working in landscaping. Spending time at Frame Center. Learning tools. Exploring materials. Slowly, all these separate experiences began to overlap. And then came the turning point: stone.
Not polished, perfect blocks, but irregular, found stones. The kind most people would walk past without a second thought. Kriss sees something else entirely.
Letting the Material Lead
One of the most fascinating parts of her process is that she doesn’t force an idea onto a material. She starts with the stone itself.
She finds a rock she loves. Study it. Turns it. Feels it out. Then she enhances what’s already there.
That philosophy carries through all her work, whether it’s her stone benches installed in public spaces or her expressive, layered paintings and bird sculptures. Nothing feels overly controlled. It feels discovered.
As she puts it, it’s almost like she’s “fulfilling the inevitable.”
And that idea, trusting that things are unfolding the way they’re meant to, is woven throughout the episode.
The Birds, The Layers, The Personalities
If you’ve seen Kriss’ current exhibition, “Intuition” at Frame Center gallery, you’ve probably met her birds.
They’re playful. A little quirky. Full of personality. And they don’t start with a strict plan either.
Kriss begins with a base, often a weighted stone, and builds upward using painted tar paper, layering, shaping, and adjusting as she goes. There’s no fixed outcome in mind. The forms evolve naturally, almost like they’re introducing themselves to her along the way.
It’s not until the eyes go on that everything locks in. That’s when the personality shows up. That’s when they become someone.
Each piece ends up with a name, a story, and sometimes even a connection to people from her life. It’s this mix of intuition and emotion that makes the work feel so alive and so memorable.
When Everything Connects
One of the standout moments in the episode is when Kriss reflects on seeing all her work together in the gallery.
The stones. The birds. The paintings.
Individually, they’re strong. But together, they tell a bigger story. One she didn’t fully see until now.
That’s the magic of a well-curated show. And it’s also where Frame Center plays such an important role. Because presentation matters. Context matters. The way work is framed, displayed, and experienced can completely change how it’s understood. As Kriss mentions, seeing her work professionally framed felt like “the frosting on the cake.” It brought everything together.
Art, Community, and the Bigger Picture
This episode isn’t just about one artist’s journey. It’s about the ecosystem around art.
The conversations touch on something important: art doesn’t exist in isolation.
It’s shaped by:
- The people you meet
- The spaces that support you
- The collectors who believe in your work
- The community that surrounds it
There’s also a strong theme around accessibility, breaking the idea that original art is “elitist” and reminding people that collecting can start small. A single piece. A single connection. A single story on your wall.
At the end of the day, that’s what makes art meaningful. Not just how it looks, but where it came from.
A Space Where It All Comes Together
Kriss’ story is a perfect reflection of what Frame Center has built over the years – a place where artists grow, where ideas take shape, and where work is given the attention it deserves.
From gallery exhibitions to custom framing to conversations like this podcast, it’s all part of the same mission: supporting artists and helping more people connect with art in a real, approachable way.
If you haven’t experienced Intuition yet, or if this story makes you want to see the work in person, stop by Frame Center and spend some time with the pieces. You’ll see the layers, the textures, and the personalities up close, and maybe even find one that speaks to you.
And if you have something of your own that deserves that same level of care, Frame Center is always ready to help you bring it to life, beautifully framed and ready for your wall.
