“I am not trying to comment on or reference the history of art. I am trying to engage it in the physical act of making the paintings.” - John Brown

John Brown is not an abstract painter. The paintings Brown has been making recently are clearly representational – reference photos of military hardware are digitally prepared prior to becoming responses in paint to the distress over the increasing glorification of militarism more woven into the fabric of Canada’s political and cultural discourse. Rather than employ a traditionally flat abstract formal style, some of his paintings (more than others) arrive at a deeper summaries than surface due to the complexity of Brown’s resonant approach. Figure /ground representational relationships are preserved and Brown’s early work was fundamentally based on the body and the figurative magnification of an imaginary inner body. His most recent work is returning to these figurative origins; still, Brown’s paintings continue to challenge the viewer to question set modes of perception in favor of more extensive and subtle reads.

List of Works

1. “Stupid #1”, 2011108” x 96” Oil on Panel2. “Portrait of M.A.”, 201160” x 66”Oil on Panel3. “Brontosaurus”, 201096” x 144”Oil on Panel4. “Fatbox”, 201084” x 72”Oil on Panel5. “Jack (but not me)”, 201084” x 72”Oil on Panel6. “Puppy” 201060” x 72” Oil on Panel7. “Grimm #72”, 200924” x 24”Oil on Panel8. “Grimm #75”, 200924” x 24”Oil on Panel9. “Grimm #65”, 200924” x 24”Oil on Panel10. “Grimm #74”, 200924” x 24”Oil on Panel

Price available upon inquiry.

exhibitions@littlepaperplanes.com