About Brianna O’Halloran
Brianna O’Halloran, creative director of B. RUTH CREATIVE, is a multimedia artist, high school educator and avid gardener. Her most recent work explores alternative processes in cameraless photography with botanicals she has grown in her garden, and botanicals as the art themselves. Eight years ago, she killed cacti but her black thumb but it has since turned green and her garden is now one of her biggest inspirations. Brianna’s creative process is rooted in movement, light, rhythm and play.
As an only child, Brianna created her own world of play by staging elaborate theatrical productions, which included handmade garments and sets for her dolls. Brianna’s upbringing exposed her to the performing and visual arts, with lessons in dance, acting, fine arts and music. With dance as her foundation, Brianna began to explore a new take on the realm of traditional dance with her core movement background, expanding into film, dance film, performance art and installations. During that time, she also learned the business side of dance while interning at Dance Magazine and the Dance Films Association. She also attended a performing arts high school, studied in New York at multiple acting and dance studios, and participated in regional and national dance and talent competitions.
At Bennington College, Brianna leapt into her video studies. By manipulating the mediums she was comfortable with, such as dance, costume, and lighting, and studying them further, she discovered that her imaginative visions could best be articulated through animation. Animation allowed her the freedom to bring to life the magical worlds she once created with her dolls and enabled her to establish her imagination via film and performance. She understands that the core of any freedom is knowledge and knows the importance of learning about the history of the arts she loves. She had the opportunity to intern at the James River Film Society in Richmond, Virginia and learned firsthand the beauty – and challenges – in working with actual film.
After graduation and a short stint as an art teacher, Brianna founded B. RUTH CREATIVE and has since participated in many exciting projects. Brianna’s time as a Terrytoons animation archivist gave her the privilege of holding film cells in her gloved hands, allowing her to explore root methods in animation and to be inspired by the magic in each frame. And while imaginative worlds are paramount to Brianna, she has learned much immersed in the reality of the documentary 40 Weeks as its assistant director. As she followed families during their 40 weeks of pregnancy, Brianna understood more fully that, while creative ideas give life to a project, it is the day-to-day work of film that allows an idea to grow and develop.
Upon completion of 40 Weeks, Brianna expanded B. RUTH CREATIVE. Brianna's exploration as a visual storyteller continues as she collaborates with fellow artists and works with new brands and companies. Her dream of being able to do what she loves and work with a variety of clients (featured here) came true.
During this time, Brianna returned to her alma matter at Morris County School of Technology (MCST) as the Dance Film Guest Artist. Halls of Ivy, a dance film created by the Academy for Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Dance Class of 2018, was selected as the winning Capturing Motion NYC film at the 45th Annual Dance on Camera Festival at Lincoln Center. As the winning film, Halls of Ivy was screened at the Walter Reade Theater with the Experimental Shorts Program on February 7, 2017. This experience forged a path of educating the next generation of artists. Mrs. O'Halloran is committed to educating and supporting young media makers, providing them the same opportunity she cherished during her high school education: to grow, learn, explore and make work in a culturally responsive environment that fosters inclusion, ABAR creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking.
Brianna is member of the Boonton Board of Education, has recently established a free native seed library in collaboration with the New Jersey Native Plant Society, and raises money for local organizations with her ‘Flower for Good’ bouquets. Brianna resides in Morris County, NJ with her husband and their rescue dog, Lonzo. The slow restoration of their 1920 craftsman bungalow is yet another one of her projects.
Education: Bennington College, 2012
BA in Visual Art // Concentration: Experimental Animation and Dance Film
NJ Teacher Standard Certificate - Teacher of Visual Arts (4106)
About B. RUTH CREATIVE
B. RUTH CREATIVE, a Creative Consulting Company, based in Morris County, New Jersey, produces work in the areas of film, photography and social media. Since its inception in 2012, B. RUTH CREATIVE has produced and directed a variety of projects for various clients. B.RUTH CREATIVE is not taking new clients at this time.