Brown James

James Brown was an influential American artist born in 1951 in Los Angeles, California. His early education in the arts began at the Immaculate Heart College in Hollywood, where he studied painting and printmaking. He further honed his craft at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, graduating in 1974. The rich cultural atmosphere of Paris nurtured his artistic development, and he remained in the city to live and work for several years.

In 1978, Brown showcased his unique style with his first solo exhibition at the Gemeentemuseum in Arnheim, Netherlands, followed closely by a show at the Christiane and Eric Germain Gallery in Paris. His growing reputation led him to New York in 1979, where he became intertwined with the Neo-Expressionism movement, collaborating with notable artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Julian Schnabel. His work was featured in prominent U.S. galleries like the Shafrazi Gallery and the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York. During this period, he also collaborated with the Lucio Amelio Gallery in Naples.

Brown’s artistic practice was known for its eclectic and varied approach, incorporating different techniques such as ceramics, bronze, textiles, and printmaking alongside his more recognized abstract paintings. This versatility kept his work continuously fresh and innovative.

In 1995, Brown relocated to Mexico with his family, finding inspiration in a new cultural landscape. Five years later, he and his wife, Alexandra, founded Carpe Diem Press in Oaxaca. This venture was dedicated to creating limited-edition artist books and prints in collaboration with leading artists and writers, further cementing his legacy as a multifaceted artist.

Throughout his career, James Brown’s work was featured in numerous exhibitions across America and Europe. In Mexico, his more recent works were celebrated in significant exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Oaxaca and the Anahuacalli Museum in Mexico City. His art is part of prestigious collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum, and the Whitney Museum in New York, as well as the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Kolumba Museum in Cologne, the Contemporary Art Centre of Malaga in Spain, and the Tamayo Museum in Mexico City.

James Brown passed away in February 2020, leaving behind a rich legacy of artistic exploration and collaboration that continues to inspire.