Introducing "Primal Energy"

Opening night at my first solo exhibition

Primal Energy is a bold contemporary art collection inspired by the power, movement and enduring fascination of the prehistoric world. Created by Birmingham-based artist Martin Brennan, the collection brings dinosaurs into a modern visual language through fluorescent colour, expressive mark-making, layered texture and dramatic black outlines.

Rather than presenting dinosaurs as traditional scientific illustrations, Martin treats each animal as a vehicle for energy and emotion. Tyrannosaurus rex, Velociraptor, Triceratops, Spinosaurus and Dilophosaurus emerge from chaotic layers of paint, spray effects, drips, scribbled lines and spontaneous gestures. The recognisable forms provide structure, while the marks beneath and around them preserve the freedom of the creative process.

At the heart of Primal Energy is the contrast between control and chaos. Each artwork begins with an instinctive underpainting, built through rapid movements, clashing fluorescent tones and overlapping textures. These unpredictable foundations are then refined with carefully drawn shapes and strong black detail, allowing the dinosaur to take form without completely hiding the raw artwork beneath it. Fragments of the original chaos remain visible through the finished subject, giving every piece depth, movement and an unmistakably handmade character.

The colour palette is deliberately intense. Neon pinks, acid greens, electric blues, vivid yellows and fiery oranges are set against deep areas of black, creating artwork that feels illuminated from within. Depending on the light and viewing distance, new details, marks and colour relationships continue to reveal themselves. The pieces are designed to command attention, but their layered surfaces also reward closer inspection.

First presented as a solo exhibition in Digbeth, Birmingham, Primal Energy was developed as an immersive body of work rather than a set of isolated paintings. Large statement dinosaurs were displayed alongside smaller originals, abstract studies and prints, showing how one visual language could move between scale, subject and format. Together, the works create a world that feels energetic, playful and slightly unpredictable, combining the excitement of prehistoric imagery with the finish and presence of contemporary interior art.

The collection extends beyond the large dinosaur paintings. The framed Primal Energy abstract artworks isolate the expressive backgrounds from Martin’s creative process, allowing colour, texture and gesture to become the sole subject. Finished with glossy resin and presented in black floating frames, they offer a concentrated glimpse into the energy that sits beneath the dinosaurs.

The RAW mini collection strips the idea back even further. Painted directly onto exposed MDF, these smaller original artworks allow the natural board to remain part of the composition. Bright prehistoric figures, black outlines and explosive paint marks contrast with the untouched surface, creating accessible, characterful pieces that retain the attitude of the larger works.

Although the collection draws on prehistoric subjects, Primal Energy is ultimately about something very current: instinct, momentum and the need to create without overthinking every decision. The dinosaurs represent strength, survival and the imagination of childhood, while the energetic surfaces reflect the pressure, excitement and unpredictability of modern life.

Every original artwork is individually created by hand in Martin’s Birmingham studio. No two surfaces, splashes or drawn details are identical. Variations and imperfections are not hidden; they are essential parts of the work and evidence of the physical process behind it. Materials are layered, drawn into, covered and revealed until each composition reaches a balance between wild energy and deliberate control.

Primal Energy was created for collectors who want artwork with presence, colour and personality. Whether displayed as a large statement painting, a framed abstract or a smaller RAW original, each piece carries the same central idea: ancient subjects reimagined through unapologetically contemporary energy. It is a celebration of imagination, individuality and the lasting thrill of encountering something powerful, unfamiliar and impossible to ignore.