Joan Brown was a pioneering artist of the Bay Area Figurative Movement and a leader of the 20th century American avant-garde. Born in 1938 in San Francisco, she developed a distinctive style of painting that fused figuration, abstract expressionism, and occasionally surrealist elements. Her works often featured female figures and animals, rendered in thick paint and vibrant colors. Brown’s paintings and sculptures have been exhibited in numerous art institutions, from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. She also served as a professor at the California College of Arts and Crafts, inspiring the next generation of artists. Joan Brown’s work has left an indelible mark on the American art landscape, and serves as an enduring testament to her artistic vision.
Brown’s art is currently on display at SFMOMA. Read more about her work and the exhibit on our sister site, the Marina Times, here.
