Building Blocks of Cecily Brown
In 1969, the painter Cecily Brown was born in the lively city of London. Brown’s fortunate upbringing contributed to her becoming one of the most successful artists. Her mother, Shena Mackay, is a Scottish novelist. David Sylvester, Brown’s father, had a career as a British curator, art critic, and trustee at the Tate Gallery, but he was not involved in raising her. Cecilys stepfather was Robin Brown. Sylvester, who had a Russian-Jewish heritage, played a crucial role in promoting artists such as Richard Hamilton, Lucian Freud, Joan Miró, and Francis Bacon. He also educated and supported the emerging artists of British Pop art in the 1950s, known as the “Young Turks.
Fig 1. Seven brides for seven brothers © Cecily Brown
Fig 2. Maggi Hambling August night 1990
It was during her teenage years that Cecily forged a deep and enduring bond with Francis Bacon, because of the introduction facilitated by Sylvester. While Brown was a student, Maggi Hambling, a painter and sculptor, mentored Brown. The best representation of the Hambling painting style, that relates to Brown, is her painting August Night 1990 and Wall of Water paintings. These examples illustrate a vivid stream of primal forces, captured on canvas. Brown studied at Slade School of Fine Art. After receiving guidance from her mentor, she participated in an exchange program at the New York Studio School. This experience led to a lifelong relationship with New York City. In 1993, she earned a BFA in painting.
Fig 3. © Cecily Brown. Sweetie 2000 watercolor gouache. Photo credit Genevieve Hanson
Fig 4. © Cecily Brown 1997
Fig 5. © Cecily Brown. 2005
Outside the Loop of The Young British Artists
Around the late 80s and early 90s, a group of artists known as The Young British Artists (YBA) led theLondon art scene. Michael Corris, an artist and writer for Artforum in the 1990s, created the term. The YBA placed a strong emphasis on media such as film and found objects. With the support of Iraqi British businessman Charles Saatch, the group thrived. Damien Hirst was one of the notable artists in the group. Brown moved to New York City to distance herself from the exclusive artist’s club and conceptual scene of the YBA. She wanted to pursue her own independent path as an artist.
Fig 6. © Cecily Brown. Untitled 2013, watercolor and gouache on paper
In the extended Premium edition you can check out more on the concepts and process within Cecily Brown’s work, the pareidolia effect in her art, where she finds inspiration, and more intriguing examples of her paintings.
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