John Brown

BYDealers Auction House Biography and Notes

John Brown, a noteworthy presence in Toronto's contemporary art scene since the 1980s, is known for his slow, meticulous practice. His exhaustive process involves the application and removal of layers of paint on panel, so that the image seems to emerge archaeologically, revealed rather than built up. In this vein, the human body - and what is concealed beneath the flesh - has long fascinated Brown. His Head Paintings (better known as the Grimm), Brown's longest-running series of works, are inspired by the original folk tales of the Brothers Grimm, dark stories of violence, magic, and warning. Grimm No. 94 is an iconic example of the painter's expressive scrapes and markings; showcasing his use of colour, both hidden and revealed, the work's warped perspective turns the picture plane toward abstraction and creates an overall impression wherein figurative elements appear to move nearer to the realm of the surreal.