There is a very hip and cool art scene happening in Mobile and Baldwin counties, and Brian Tan is right in the thick of it. He was recently awarded the 2026 Visual Artist of the Year at the Artys, a project of the Mobile Arts Council that recognizes artists who have made a meaningful impact on the creative community.

Tan’s approach blends bold graphics with interactive elements in a style that feels fresh and distinctive. “Some people compare it to graffiti, but I just call it contemporary,” he says. Active with the Mobile Arts Council, the Alabama Contemporary Art Center, and the Eastern Shore Art Center, Tan has become a dynamic presence in the ever-evolving Gulf Coast arts scene. 

“When I came here from New York City during the pandemic, because my fiancé’s family lived here, I had no idea what was going to happen with my art,” he says. “I hit the ground running and got involved as quickly as I could, and the arts community was very welcoming.”

One of his first public projects was decorating an electrical box in downtown Mobile. “I will draw on anything,” Tan laughs. “Hats, shoes, jackets—even an arm cast.” His creative reach has extended well beyond the Gulf Coast as well. Tan was chosen from 70 applicants to design the warm-up jerseys for the New Jersey Devils hockey team for their Lunar New Year game. 

Originally from Fairlawn, New Jersey, Tan is a first-generation Filipino American. “It feels like a lot of pressure being first-generation, but my parents have been very supportive of my art,” he says. He holds a BFA from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Education. 

After moving south, Tan’s first job was with Bear Walker Custom Skateboards in Daphne. “I learned how to airbrush really quickly, and I really enjoyed painting skateboards during the three years I was there,” he says.

He later became involved with the Mobile Arts Council’s Amp Up Arts, a collective impact program of the Alabama State Council on the Arts that provides sustainable arts education for K-12 public schools throughout the state. Through the program, Tan taught art in after-school and summer sessions. 

During that time, fellow educators encouraged him to apply for a teaching position with Mobile County Public Schools. Today, Tan works as an Emergency Contracted Itinerant Art Teacher, serving three K-5 schools in Mobile. 

“I never dreamed of being an art teacher, but I really love it,” he says. “I get inspiration from my students, seeing things from their point of view.” He now finds himself exactly where he needs to be—exposing young children to the world of art and allowing it to feed his creative spirit.

“I took art education for granted growing up,” he explains. “Being so close to New York City museums, I was always aware of fine art. Having a balance of working in the arts and being an artist is the best of both worlds.”

Brian’s playful, creative style attracts patrons of all types and has recently become an interactive feature at art markets and festivals in the area. “While doing live paintings, people would come up and say, ‘I wish I could paint on that,’” he says. “And I said, go ahead! Now it’s become a thing.”

Tan is also excited that one of his pieces has been accepted into the members’ juried show at the Eastern Shore Art Center, where it will hang through April. His work is also permanently displayed at Knuckle Bones Elixir Co and Drop Out Bakery in Mobile, Common Ground in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and at the Eastern Shore Arts Center in Fairhope. One of his newest projects is the coordination of the ‘Art Mart, ‘ an artist showcase and market that brings alternative art, music, and culture to Fairhope’s First Friday Art Walk. You can find the Art Mart behind the ESAC.

What began as an uncertain move during the pandemic has evolved into a thriving creative life on the Gulf Coast. Between teaching, community projects, and his own growing body of work, he continues to leave his mark on the region’s vibrant arts scene. If his journey proves anything, it’s that sometimes the most rewarding paths are the ones you never planned. Remember his name, because Brian Tan and other young artists like him are the future of the arts scene in the Scenic 98 Coastal Community.