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Renowned British painter Glenn Brown has redefined the boundaries of contemporary art by merging Surrealism, Photorealism, and historical references into a unique visual language. Born in 1966 in a small mining village in northern England, Brown grew up surrounded by literature and music rather than visual arts. His work is celebrated for its meticulous detail, complex appropriations, and evocative distortions that invite viewers to question the meaning of art and originality.

The Early Foundations of Creativity

Brown’s formative years were marked by a love of books and music, fostered by his parents in rural Norfolk. He recalls his unexpected introduction to visual art through pop music:

“My first introduction to Henri Fantin-Latour’s paintings was by an album cover designed by Peter Saville for New Order.”

Programs from the Open University further expanded his education in art and film, giving him a rich cultural foundation before he ever set foot in an art college.

At art school, Brown’s education varied from academic life drawing to modernist theories of color and abstraction. He was influenced by the German and American art movements of the 1980s, including Gerhard Richter and Sigmar Polke, both of whom shaped his approach to the “death of painting.” As Brown explains:

“You build upon tradition, you play with it, and you break it whenever you want to.”

Painting in a Mediated World

Brown’s career has been deeply influenced by the concept of appropriation, drawing inspiration from artists like Sherrie Levine and Salvador Dalí. He reflects on the process of reinterpreting images:

“I loved Sherrie Levine’s photographs… where you become dizzy because you don’t know what to look at.”

This fascination led to his unique practice of creating “paintings of paintings,” using mediated images as his subject. His work bridges the gap between Photorealism and Surrealism, as seen in his pieces based on Dalí and science fiction illustrator Chris Foss. Brown notes:

“The idea of making photorealist paintings of photorealist paintings… seemed so mind-numbingly boring that I couldn’t bear to do it.”

Instead, he introduces distortions and layers that amplify fantasy and escapism.

A Dialogue Between Paintings – In the Altogether

For his exhibition In the Altogether, presented at Galerie Max Hetzler in Paris, Brown created a series of interconnected works over two years. He explains:

“Nothing was finished, but all the paintings were started, and they were all talking to each other.”

The paintings feature vibrant colors, dynamic contrasts, and intricate glazing techniques that add depth and complexity. For instance, Brown uses Indian yellow—a pigment derived from ox urine—to create unique tones:

“You apply this yellow over the top of a blue, and it turns this very peculiar green.”

One standout piece, The Untitled, is based on an Albrecht Dürer drawing. Brown manipulates the figure to blur gender distinctions, explaining:

“In my mind, it’s both Christ and Mary at the same time.”

The work includes a blank rectangle at the bottom, inviting viewers to title the piece themselves, an interactive gesture that encourages personal interpretation.

Humor, Depth, and the Role of Titles

Brown’s use of humor is central to his work, influenced by the deadpan wit of Marcel Duchamp. Titles like Dirty Little Seahorses and When the Satellite Sings are meant to provoke both laughter and deeper reflection. He describes the importance of titles:

“The title of a work is like adding an invisible color to the painting.”

Through this playful yet intellectual approach, Brown invites viewers to engage with his art on multiple levels, finding meaning and amusement in equal measure.

Glenn Brown’s Artistic Vision

With In the Altogether, Glenn Brown continues to push the boundaries of painting by combining meticulous technique with rich cultural references. His work reimagines the history of art while challenging viewers to question their perceptions. Whether through surreal landscapes or appropriated brushstrokes, Brown’s paintings create a dialogue between the past and present, offering a thought-provoking and playful exploration of humanity and creativity.

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Iván Navarro évoque dans cette dernière partie sa passion d’adolescent pour les concerts clandestins qui à l’époque étaient à la fois l’expression de la liberté artistique et une réponse au pouvoir en place. L’artiste pousse sa passion de collectionneur de bootleg et de vinyls jusqu’à lancer son propre label, Hueso Records, sur lequel il signe un groupe emblématique de cette période, les Pinochet Boys.
Il explique ensuite comment il a développé sa connaissance du Light Art au delà des images qu’il connaissait d’artistes comme Dan Flavin ou Keith Sonnier. Puis à quel point les voyages et sa découverte d’artistes tels que Meyer Vaisman ont pu élargir ses horizons et lui donner confiance en lui en tant qu’artiste.

Pour Iván Navarro, toute passion doit à un certain moment être abordée et approfondie sérieusement, c’est la clé pour en faire un art.

In this last part, Iván Navarro talks about his passion as a teenager for underground concerts which at the time were both an expression of artistic freedom and a response to the ruling power. The artist pushes his passion for bootleg and vinyl up to launch his own label, Hueso Records, on which he signs an emblematic group of this period, the Pinochet Boys.
He then explains how he developed his knowledge of Light Art beyond the images he knew of artists like Dan Flavin or Keith Sonnier. Then how much traveling and discovering artists like Meyer Vaisman would broaden his horizons and give him self-confidence as an artist.
For Iván Navarro, all passion must at some point be approached and deepened seriously, this is the key to making it an art.

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Iván Navarro a passé son enfance et son adolescence sous la dictature chilienne à son apogée. Au cours de ces années, les Chiliens ont découvert que des personnes avaient été assassinées et torturées et ont commencé à protester contre le pouvoir en place. En réponse, pour maintenir l’ordre et contrôler la population, le gouvernement a créé des pannes d’électricité; plongeant les gens dans l’obscurité et l’insécurité. Navarro raconte comment il a vécu ces situations, et nous comprenons comment la lumière et la privation de lumière ont eu une influence majeure sur son travail. L’artiste parle également de deux de ses mentors: Eduardo Vilches, un ancien élève de Josef Albers, qui lui a enseigné la théorie des couleurs et Eugenio Dittborn dont il a appris à être un artiste professionnel en étant son assistant de studio. Son aventure artistique se poursuivra à New York où il fera ses premières expositions majeures après 7 ans de travail en temps que restaurateur de meubles anciens.

Iván Navarro spent his childhood and his teenage years under the Chilean dictatorship at its peak. During those years, Chileans discovered that people were murdered and tortured and began to protest against the power in place. In response, to maintain order and control the population, the government created blackouts ; plunging people into darkness and insecurity without electricity. Navarro tells how he dealt with those issues, and we understand how light and privation of light was a major influence on his work. The artist also speaks about two of his mentors : Eduardo Vilches, a former student of Josef Albers, who taught him theory of color and Eugenio Dittborn from whom he learned how to be a professional artist by being his studio assistant. His artistic adventure will continue in New York where he will make his first major exhibitions after 7 years of work as an antiques restorer.