
BRIANA HERTZOG
GATEKEEPERS
solo exhibition
January 18th - February 16th, 2025
Opening Reception: First Friday, February 7th, 2025 ​
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Arch Enemy Arts presents GATEKEEPERS by Briana Hertzog. Seven meticulous oil paintings constructed in tight, energetic compositions enter the conversation around AI-generated art. Using traditional techniques, Hertzog depicts seven three-headed animal-deities, who serve as protectors, overseeing artists’ intellectual property used to train generative AI–learning models that have effectively stolen the distinctive features that make an artist’s work their own.
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“The term ‘gatekeeper’ has been used by proponents of AI-art as an insult toward artists, specifically artists who express disapproval of their copyrighted works being used without their consent…Referring to artists as ‘gatekeepers’ negates the years of hard work and dedication that went into perfecting [an artist’s] skill and developing their style. I decided to use this insult as inspiration for this series by embracing the ‘gatekeeper’ as a form of guardianship. The Cerberus characters guard their territories from those who wish to do them harm.”
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Hertzog’s style is an apropos lens through which to view the case against generative AI. Her figurative pop surreal paintings are so tight and clean we’d forgive you if you thought they were digitally made. But up close and in person, Hertzog does what only a real hand with real paint on a real surface can do. Impossibly fine strokes ripple in subtle switches of color as she bounces between inspired, naturalistic rendering and ultra-clean geometric shapes. Light catches texture on her varnished, one and half inch thick stretched canvases, awarding these small yet wondrous objects a vitality that could never be matched by pixels on a screen.
Briana Hertzog is based in Northern Virginia. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and attended the Illustration Academy, and she has also studied at the Corcoran School of Art and Design and Intlochen Center for the Arts. Hertzog began showing with Arch Enemy Arts in 2023 after submitting to our Spotlight Showcase, and GATEKEEPERS is her debut solo feature with the gallery.
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GATEKEEPERS will be on view from January 18th - February 16th, 2025
Sold works will begin to ship the week starting February 23rd, unless other rush shipping arrangements have been made. Items marked with a red dot have already been sold.

"Warden of Domain" 2024 oil on canvas 8" x 10" $875 USD

"Forest Sentinel" 2024 oil on canvas 8" x 10" $875 USD

"Coastal Lookout" 2024 oil on canvas 8" x 10" $875 USD

"Park Guardian" 2024 oil on canvas 8" x 10" $875 USD

"Keeper of Estuaries" 2024 oil on canvas 8" x 10" $875 USD

"Defender of the Fields" 2024 oil on canvas 8" x 10" $875 USD

"Ocean Sentry" 2024 oil on canvas 8" x 10" $875 USD