About the Artist
Paintings
Henry Brown’s paintings are mechanically drawn geometric abstractions. He forms his imagery from structural schematics constructed with compass and ruler. The schematics are developed from small sketches and then drawn directly on the gessoed canvases. Henry Brown paints the images, but leaves the underdrawings visible to show the substructure, planning and execution of his artwork.
The artist uses mechanical drafting techniques and paints with flat unmodulated color. Yet Henry Brown retains a handmade quality in his artwork, seen in the knifed finish of the gessoed layers, variations in pencil lines and eccentricities of the painted edges.
His imagery appears to be fixed spatially, but visual perception triggers sensations of movement. Depth shifts as surfaces advance and recede. Henry Brown animates the surfaces of his abstract paintings with systems of perspective and changing figure-ground relationships.
American Abstract Artists International
In June 2010, Henry Brown’s work was included in American Abstract Artists International “L’astrazione vista da un cosmopolita” at the Aragonese Castle of Otranto in Italy. The exhibition included work by 50 AAA members and guest exhibitors from Italy. A brochure accompanied the exhibition, with an essay in three languages by Lucio Pozzi. This exhibition is expected to travel.
The exhibit was sponsored by BAU Institute and the Aragonese Castle of Otranto.The Aragonese Castle of Otranto is a member of Sistema Museo, a National Museum System in Italy. Otranto is located at the eastern-most point of the Salento peninsula, in the southeastern region of Apuglia.
American Abstract Artists is a democratic, artist-run organization, founded in 1936 to promote the exposure and understanding of abstract and non–objective art. To date American Abstract Artists has organized over 100 exhibitions of its membership in museums and galleries across the United States. AAA produces member print portfolios, publishes catalogues and an American Abstract Artists Journal, distributes its published materials internationally to cultural organizations, documents member history in the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, and hosts critical panels and symposia.
“L’astrazione vista da un cosmopolita”
American Abstract Artist International “L’astrazione vista da un cosmopolita”
Giugno 2010
La mostra comprende 50 lavori provenienti dall’associazione American Abstract Artist di New York, fondata nel 1936 per promuovere l’esposizione e la comprensione dell’arte astratta.
Otranto rappresenta la prima tappa di un percorso Europeo della mostra, scelta e fortemente voluta dagli artisti per il legame diretto tra le opere esposte e i dipinti rupestri della vicina Grotta dei Cervi.
Upcoming and Recent Exhibitions, and a Residency
News About Henry Brown: Recent exhibitions include MINUS SPACE at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center/MoMA. Henry Brown was recently awarded a residency at Yaddo.
