Jan Brown

STATEMENT

A life-long resident of Michigan, I began early to show a spark of art talent. I continued throughout my school days furthering this and eventually received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Michigan State University with an emphasis in printmaking and later, a Master of Arts from Eastern Michigan University.

In 2010, I retired from teaching after 35 years. I began taking classes and fell into painting as a medium and began to work abstractly. Having been very representative in my work, abstraction freed me to explore color, texture, and composition on so many different levels. Five years of working abstractly led me back to my figurative work and for three years now I’ve been working at blending the figure with the abstract. I have found that when I take the greatest risk—facing failure, I am rewarded with far better work.

For me art is an endeavor to reach a satisfaction from inside. Looking at art in all medias, there is a common thread to good art—it challenges the artist and the viewer.

EXHIBITIONS/SHOWS/COMMISSIONS

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2018 “Body & Soul,” Annex Gallery, 333 Midland, Highland Park, MI
2018 “Betwixt and Between,” Hatch Gallery, Hamtramck , MI
2017 “Inner Space,” The Art of Custom Framing, Troy, MI
2016 Livonia Arts Commission, Civic Center Library, Livonia City Hall, Livonia, MI 2015 “Outside the Lines,” Lawrence Street Gallery, Ferndale, MI
2015 Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery-March 2015 (Month-long solo exhibition). Featured on the Gallery’s front page and in the “Solo Art Series” archive. Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery
2014 “Altered Perceptions,” Northville Art House, Northville, MI
2013 Duo Show, The Canton Commission on Arts, Culture and Heritage, Village Theater at Cherry Hill, Canton, MI 2013 “Jan Brown Abstract Art,” Gallery 822, Royal Oak, MI
2013 “Spatial Intensity,” Lawrence Street Gallery, Ferndale, MI
2012 Duo Show, Novi Civic Center Atrium Gallery, Novi Civic Center, Novi, MI

JURIED SHOWS:
2018 37th Annual Michigan Fine Arts Competition “Stepping Out,” Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, MI
2018 Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery Figurative Art Exhibition. Honorable Mention “Soul”; Special Recognition “The Guardian”; Special Merit “Camouflage.” Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery
2017 The Body Eclectic, Honorable Mention “Reaching Out,” Lawrence Street Gallery, Ferndale, MI 2017 Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center Students Current Work, Tama Acrylic Award “Rain Shadows,”
Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, MI
2016 55th Greater Michigan Art Exhibition, Juror’s Recognition Award “Silver Moments,” Midland Center for the
Arts, Midland, MI
2016 Michigan Fine Arts Competition, 2nd Place “Raggedy Man,” Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham,
MI
2016 Detroit Society of Women Painters and Sculptors, 3rd Place “Rain Shadows,” The Padzieski Art Gallery, Ford
Community and Performing Arts Center, Dearborn, MI
2016 Livonia Arts Commission, Civic Center Library, Livonia City Hall, Livonia, MI
2015 “Ten to One–Interpretations of the Studio Model,” Northville Art House, Northville, MI
2014 “Out of the Blue,” 2nd Place “Blue”, Plymouth Community Art Council, Plymouth, MI
2014 “West of Center,” Northville Art House, Northville, MI
2014 Canadian Art Exhibeo Human Figure Competition, Top Tier Award “She Lived in Shadows” (Reviewed in
Detroit Society of Women Painters and Sculptors Dec 2014 Vol. 12 No. 12)
2014 The University of Michigan Open Competition, Alfred Berkowitz Gallery Mardigian Library, The University of
Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI
2014 “From Our Perspectives,” National Women’s Art Exhibition, Wallace Smith Theater Gallery, Oakland
Community College-Orchard Ridge Campus, Farmington Hills, MI
2014 22nd Annual Canton Fine Arts Exhibition, Best of Show “Man Friend of a Kind,” The Canton Commission on
Arts, Culture and Heritage, Village Theater at Cherry Hill, Canton, MI
2013 The University of Michigan Open Competition, Merit Award “Intimate Chambers,” Alfred Berkowitz Gallery
Mardigian Library, The University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI
2013 Abstract Art Competition, Special Recognition Award “Dreams Change,” Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery 2013 31st Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, MI
2013 Silver Medal Exhibition, Scarab Club Gallery, Scarab Club, Detroit, MI

EDUCATION

1973 BFA Michigan State University 1992 MA Eastern Michigan University

AWARDS

JUROR/CURATOR
2018 Juror, The University of Michigan-Dearborn Open Competition, Alfred Berkowitz Gallery Mardigian Library, The University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI
2018 Juror, 31st Art Ambience Show, Woodhaven Community Center, Woodhaven, MI 2017 Curator, “How Many More,” Lawrence Street Gallery, Ferndale, MI
2015 Juror, 2015 Fall Art Exhibition, Visual Arts Association of Livonia, Livonia, MI

FEATURED IN PUBLICATIONS:
2017 Border Crossing (Vol 7) “Interview with Jan Brown,” Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, MI
http://bcrossing.org/jan-brown/
2017 Strokes of Genius 9: The Best of Drawing “Structure”
2016 Acrylic Artist Magazine (Summer 2016) Featured Artist, “Crossing Over”
2016 Art Exhibeo’s first publication: “Jan Brown: A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery”
2015 Sachet Mixte Women Arts Journal (Edition 7) “Jan Brown”
2014 AcrylicWorks: Best of Acrylic Painting “Pierian Springs”
2012 The Artist’s Magazine 2012 All Media Art Competition Artist’s Network, Honorable Mention Mixed Media
and Collage “Dentist’s Dream.”