A painting is an atmosphere whatever the subject I would like to say that I have a particular idea to express, and that is to some extent true, like a place holder for a thought or experience that I want to hold onto or to share – once a painting is begun though I am as much reading it as writing it as I work, looking for reflections of thoughts and meanings beyond the idea I started with – trying to pin down drifting thoughts that are as inscrutable and provocative as a late summer breeze
– Don Brown, 2024
At Bury Street Don Brown presents a late summer breeze, a continuation of his solo exhibition of black-and- white flower paintings and delicate pencil and watercolour on paper works at the gallery in 2023, titled Fleurs. In this new body of work Brown employs the use of colour to faithfully replicate the floral motif – Brown’s decisive oeuvre, spanning various painting works in this display, reflects the enduring dualities within his practice of specificity and universalism, the impermanent and the eternal.
Don Brown (b. 1962, Norfolk) studied at the Central School of Art (1983-5) and the Royal College of Art (1985-8). He has exhibited in galleries and museums internationally, including recent solo presentations Fleurs, Rochelle Canteen, London (2020) and Fleurs at Sadie Coles HQ, London (2020). Group exhibitions include POP GOES THE PASTORAL, The Old Theatre, Framlingham, England (2021); Newlands House Gallery, Petworth, England (2021); Drawn Together Again, Flag Art Foundation, New York (2019); Selected works from the Murderme Collection, Newport Street Gallery, London (2017); Theatrical Gestures, Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art, Israel (2013); Presence: the art of the sculpted portrait, Holburne Museum, Bath (2012); Freedom Not Genius, Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli, Turin (2012); and The Naked Portrait, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh (2007). In 2007, Yoko a solo exhibition of work by Don Brown was presented at Le Consortium, Dijon (2007). His works are held in numerous international collections, both public and private, including the Tate Collection, London.