October 8 - November 15, 2022

Reception:  Thursday October 16, 5:30-7:30pm

Gallery Paule Anglim is pleased to announce an exhibition of paintings and drawings by Joan Brown (1938 - 1990).

The exhibition will feature several large canvases from the early 1970’s, two self-portraits from the early 80’s, and a complement of works on paper in graphite and enamel.  In all the works Brown painted outlined figures against a stylized flat background. Ranging from abstracted compositions with figures in colorful silhouettes to the two self-portraits --one with Chinese, Egyptian and Western astrological symbols-- the selection will show the range of Brown’s formal experimentation and explorations of images from her own personal transformation.

In the early 70’s began Brown’s professorship at UC Berkeley, and the University Art Museum presented her first retrospective with catalog.  The Lovers #2 1974, featured in the 1974 exhibition and catalog will be in the gallery exhibition.

In the 70’s into the 80’s, Brown’s interest grew toward the spiritual and comparative ancient religions.  Leading her to the Theosophists and discussions of color vibrations (referred to as thought forms), her readings translated into mystical symbols and encoded imagery in her work.

Joan Brown was born and raised in San Francisco, and began painting in her teens.  Studying at the San Francisco Art Institute, she began exhibiting in 1957 at the Gallery Six and soon thereafter in New York.  She exhibited frequently throughout her career and was an influential teacher at the University of California, Berkeley.    Her works are represented in many public collections including New York’s MoMA and Whitney Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

For further information about the exhibition and the artist, please telephone 415.433.2710