Primal Energy Exhibition July 2026

First Solo Art Exhibition – July 2026

In July 2026, Birmingham contemporary artist Martin Brennan presented his first solo exhibition—a major milestone marking the development of his distinctive approach to mixed-media painting.

The exhibition brought together a bold collection of original dinosaur paintings, contemporary wildlife art and abstract works. Each piece was created through Martin’s signature process of building energetic layers of acrylic paint, spray paint, inks, oil pastels and expressive marks before refining the subject with strong outlines and areas of deep black.

Large-scale dinosaur artworks formed a central part of the exhibition. Tyrannosaurus rex, velociraptors and other prehistoric subjects were reimagined through vivid colour, texture and movement. Rather than creating traditional dinosaur illustrations, Martin used these familiar subjects to explore nostalgia, imagination and our continuing fascination with the prehistoric world.

The exhibition also featured contemporary animal paintings and smaller experimental pieces, demonstrating how the same layered visual language can be applied across different subjects and formats. Viewed together, the collection revealed the balance between spontaneity and control that defines Martin Brennan’s artwork: an initial foundation of colourful chaos transformed into a powerful, recognisable image.

The solo show provided an opportunity for visitors to experience the scale, surface detail and physical materials of the paintings in person. It also represented an important step forward in Martin’s journey as an independent Birmingham artist, bringing together years of experimentation, creative development and a renewed commitment to his practice.

Explore images from the exhibition below, or visit the available artwork and limited-edition print collections to discover current work by Martin Brennan.