Episode Notes

Joan Brown (1938-1990) was an American figurative painter who was a key figure in the Bay Area Figurative Movement, which emerged in San Francisco in the 1950s and 60s. Her work is known for its powerful use of color and its exploration of identity, often focusing on the female experience. Brown was born in San Francisco and studied at the California School of Fine Arts (now the San Francisco Art Institute). She was strongly influenced by the Bay Area Figurative painters, including Richard Diebenkorn and David Park, who emphasized the importance of the human figure in their work. Brown's early paintings were characterized by a bold use of color and a focus on the human form, often depicting herself or her family members. In the 1960s, her work became more abstract, with a greater emphasis on texture and surface. In the 1970s, Brown returned to figurative painting, creating powerful images of women that challenged traditional notions of femininity. Her work often explored themes of motherhood, sexuality, and identity, and she was one of the few female artists of her time to gain widespread recognition. Brown's work has been exhibited widely in the United States and abroad, and she has been the subject of numerous retrospectives, including a major exhibition at the Berkeley Art Museum in 1990, the year of her death. Her legacy continues to influence contemporary artists today.

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