How the Jersey City artist transforms memories of nature, travel, and quiet observation into atmospheric monotypes inspired by the landscapes she loves. In this episode of Tarik Talk, host Tarik Mendes sits down with Kim Bricker to explore her creative process, the role of memory in her work, and the power of artistic community.
Some artists paint what they see.
Others paint what they remember.
For artist Kim Bricker, the landscape is more than a place. It is a feeling, a memory, and an atmosphere that stays with us long after we leave. Through her monotypes and abstract landscape prints, Bricker creates works that invite viewers into moments of calm reflection, drawing inspiration from nature, travel, and the emotional connections we form with the environments around us.
Working from her studio at Art150 (150 Bay Street, Jersey City), Bricker is part of a thriving community of artists who have transformed the historic building into one of the city’s most active creative hubs.
Landscapes Built from Memory
Unlike traditional landscape painters who work directly from a specific location, Bricker approaches her work through a blend of observation, memory, photography, and imagination.
During our conversation, she explained how photographs from her travels often become starting points rather than destinations. A sunset seen years ago, the colors of a desert landscape, the reflection of light on water, or the atmosphere of a favorite hiking trail may all find their way into a single composition.
Rather than recreating a place exactly as it appeared, she distills the emotional experience of being there.
The result is work that feels familiar yet difficult to place, allowing viewers to connect their own memories and experiences to the image.
The Influence of Nature
Nature plays a central role in Bricker’s creative practice.
Over the past several years, she and her husband, fellow artist Josh, have spent time exploring national parks and landscapes throughout the American West. Desert environments, in particular, have become a recurring source of inspiration.
She describes being drawn to the colors, rock formations, vast open spaces, and quiet beauty found in these environments.
Yet what inspires her most is not necessarily a specific location.
Instead, it is the feeling of immersion—the experience of standing within a landscape and allowing it to leave a lasting impression.
Those impressions later emerge through color, texture, and atmosphere in the studio.
The Quiet Process of Printmaking
Bricker works primarily in monotype printmaking, a process that produces one-of-a-kind works on paper.
Part of what attracts her to the medium is its unpredictability.
Unlike painting directly onto a finished surface, printmaking introduces a degree of uncertainty. Images are transferred from plate to paper, creating moments where the final result cannot be entirely controlled.
For Bricker, that unknown space is where much of the magic happens.
She embraces the possibility that a piece may reveal something unexpected during the printing process.
Rather than fighting against uncertainty, she welcomes it.
Art150 and the Power of Creative Community
Although Bricker’s work often explores solitude and stillness, she credits much of her artistic growth to being surrounded by other artists.
Her studio at Art150 (150 Bay Street, Jersey City) has become an important part of her development as a professional artist.
Before joining the Art150 community, much of her work was created from home. Having a dedicated studio space changed both her routine and her mindset.
More importantly, it connected her with a network of artists navigating similar creative challenges.
The ability to exchange ideas, receive feedback, observe other artistic practices, and simply be surrounded by people committed to making art has had a profound impact on her work.
As she explained during our conversation, the community itself has become one of the most valuable parts of the studio experience.
Finding Calm Through Art
One of the qualities that immediately stands out in Bricker’s work is its sense of tranquility.
Her landscapes are not dramatic or overwhelming.
Instead, they invite viewers to slow down.
Many evoke memories of water, sunsets, quiet beaches, open skies, and moments of reflection. The colors often feel familiar, almost nostalgic, as if recalling a place visited long ago.
That emotional response is intentional.
Bricker hopes her work encourages viewers to reconnect with memories of places that brought them peace and to experience a brief moment of stillness in an increasingly fast-paced world. To hear more of Kim’s story and creative insights, listen to this episode of Tarik Talk on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. Follow @tariktalk for episode highlights and guest features, and @tarikmendes for Tarik’s latest adventures.
Looking Toward the Horizon
As her practice continues to evolve, Bricker hopes to spend more time working directly within the landscapes that inspire her.
One future goal is to participate in an artist residency in the American West, allowing her to immerse herself in nature while creating new work.
Until then, she continues exploring the relationship between memory, landscape, color, and atmosphere from her studio at Art150.
Through each new print, she reminds us that sometimes the most powerful places are not the ones we see, but the ones we carry with us long after we’ve left them behind.
About Tarik Talk
Tarik Talk is an intimate, in-depth podcast series hosted by Brazilian artist Tarik Mendes, exploring the art world and its many intersections with culture. Through thoughtful conversations with artists, dealers, curators, museum professionals, cultural leaders, and cross-industry guests from music, acting, and journalism, each episode uncovers the stories, ideas, and creative processes that reveal how art connects us all. With more than 200 episodes recorded across 10+ countries, Tarik Talk offers behind-the-scenes access to studios, exhibitions, museums, and creative communities shaping contemporary culture today. Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and follow @tariktalk for guest images and episode highlights and @tarikmendes for Tarik’s latest adventures and artistic journey.