For artist Chris Brown, inspiration can come from just about anywhere.

An old wooden crate, a discarded paintbrush, a fishing basket or even a Pez dispenser can become part of something entirely new.

Brown specializes in assemblage art, a form of three-dimensional artwork created by combining found objects. His work is colorful, textured and often filled with unexpected details.

Now, with a new gallery and workspace inside Winnsboro’s Culture Club and an artist residency at the Winnsboro Center for the Arts, Brown has more opportunities than ever to put his imagination to work.

“My art is considered assemblage, so I take objects and I recreate a three dimensional object out of that,” Brown explained.

His new space at the Culture Club encompasses approximately 3,500 square feet, giving him room to display his work alongside other artwork, including a collection of limited-edition lithographs by artists such as Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.

Brown spent two weeks moving into the space and rearranging the gallery, relocating a movable wall to create a more open floor plan. A studio area in the back will allow him to work on projects without interrupting visitors’ experience in the gallery.

The Culture Club is open Fridays and Saturdays, while Brown spends Mondays through Wednesdays at the Winnsboro Center for the Arts.

AN UNEXPECTED CAREER

Brown’s artistic career has taken some interesting turns.

Raised in Paris, Texas, he previously operated an antique business with his mother, Liberty, called Liberty and Son.

In 2003, a last-minute request to create floral arrangements for a jewelry show in Highland Park changed the direction of his career.

Although he had never worked professionally as a florist, Brown agreed to take on the project. “They’re not going to look like something a florist created; they’re going to look like art. But yes, I can do it,” Brown said to his client.

His arrangements attracted attention, eventually leading to a feature in D Magazine. To his surprise, the magazine named him Dallas’ best floral designer that year.

Suddenly, Brown found himself building a floral design business that included weddings, special events and high-profile clients. “I had to become that,” Brown said.

His mother eventually joined him in the floral business, helping create bouquets and arrangements. The two worked together for years, continuing a close relationship that eventually played a role in bringing Brown back to East Texas.

FINDING A HOME IN WINNSBORO

Brown was living in California when he began noticing changes in his mother’s health. Wanting to be closer to her in the DFW area, he decided to return to Texas about six years ago.

Friends with a home on Lake Winnsboro suggested he consider the small East Texas community. At first, Brown wasn’t even familiar with the town. He decided to visit during the Winnsboro Art and Wine Festival and quickly found himself drawn to its atmosphere.

“I attended Art and Wine. I said to myself ‘I could live here,’” Brown said.

He eventually settled into a home near Lake Winnsboro, where he enjoys the quiet surroundings, sunsets and winter visits from migrating pelicans.

Brown opened his first Winnsboro gallery about four years ago and has since become involved in the town’s growing arts community.

One of his favorite accomplishments is creating Bloom, a spring celebration of floral art that began inside his gallery.

The first event brought together artwork from dozens of artists, a fresh floral installation and a downtown window-decorating competition. Brown expected perhaps 10 businesses to participate. Instead, 37 joined in.

The event eventually became an annual celebration, with the Winnsboro Center for the Arts taking over its organization. “That’s my baby,” Brown said of Bloom.

A SECOND LIFE FOR DISCARDED OBJECTS

Brown’s latest artistic venture takes his interest in found objects beyond the gallery walls.

As the first artist-in-residence at the Winnsboro Center for the Arts, he is developing sculptures using materials collected from Upper Sabine Valley Solid Waste Management District transfer stations.

The residency is also part of an effort to expand public art throughout Wood County, including connections between Winnsboro, Quitman and Mineola.

Brown has been collecting discarded materials and exploring possibilities for outdoor installations, including projects that could incorporate old pallets, metal containers and other salvaged objects.

For him, the materials themselves often determine what a piece will become.

“I get it from trash,” Brown said with a laugh when asked where he finds inspiration.

Inside the gallery, one of his assemblage pieces tells the story of his own artistic journey. Created from a wooden crate once used to ship artwork, it incorporates layers of paint, brushes, resin and flowers.

The piece took approximately four months to complete, partly because each layer required time to dry. Brown explained that the resin represents the challenges of making a living through art, including the uncertainty of whether a finished piece will connect with an audience.

His work also reflects his belief that creativity doesn’t have to fit into a single category. “You’re not supposed to be this or this,” he said of artists with multiple talents.

MORE THAN A GALLERY

Brown hopes the Culture Club will become more than a place to browse and purchase artwork.

With a stage and room for gatherings, he envisions concerts, games and other activities that bring people together. The gallery hosted its first concert during his opening weekend.

“I want to make this a cultural experience for people that come in,” he said.

Between the new gallery, his residency and upcoming sculpture projects, Brown has plenty to keep him busy.

More importantly, the opportunities have reinforced his decision to make Winnsboro his home. After several years of moving between spaces and exploring new directions for his work, he believes he has found the right place to continue creating.

“I don’t plan on going anywhere,” Brown said.