Brick can be painted or stained. My understanding is that staining is the better option as brick is very porous. You also have to get a special formula to paint brick. Check with your local paint store for recommendations.

Why not just remove it and replace with something you like . I live in an area where painted brick has been done and honestly it always looks like painted brick and the homes that did not do it always look better . BTW pictures always need to posted with dilemmas.

brick needs to be primed and painted with a masonry paint.

Why not just cover it, as in refacing with a composite material and make them into wooden columns? How about a photo?

Another contractor fix up? Mystery poster placeholder name and no picture of the home. Yours or that of another? A flip?

Pictures help us help. The bricks can be colored over the top but no you cannot change the chemical make up of a fired brick.

Are you a flipper or is this your actual home . Regardless you should know to post pictures.