The Barnes Foundation prepares to host a comprehensive exploration of Cecily Brown’s artistic journey, presenting a mid-career retrospective that challenges traditional narratives of art history. The exhibition, titled “Themes and Variations,” promises to unveil the nuanced complexity of Brown’s painterly approach.
Spanning three decades of artistic production, the show brings together more than 30 large-scale paintings and works on paper that illuminate Brown’s distinctive artistic language. Co-curated by Simonetta Fraquelli from the Barnes Foundation and Anna Katherine Brodbeck from the Dallas Museum of Art, the exhibition offers a critical examination of Brown’s unique position in contemporary painting.
Brown’s work exists in a provocative space between figuration and abstraction, consistently subverting historical artistic conventions. Her canvases deconstruct traditional genre scenes, particularly those depicting women, by reimagining them through a contemporary feminist lens.
The artist’s approach is characterized by a visceral, dynamic painting style that challenges viewers’ perceptions. Her works oscillate between recognizable forms and abstract expressions, creating compositions that are at once complex and deeply engaging. Brown’s paintings often draw from art historical references, reinterpreting scenes from European painting traditions while simultaneously critiquing their inherent power dynamics.
Key works in the exhibition include “Girl on a Swing” from 2004, which recontextualizes the voyeuristic traditions of Rococo painting, and “The Splendid Table,” a monumental triptych that reimagines 17th-century Flemish still-life traditions. These pieces demonstrate Brown’s ability to engage with art historical precedents while simultaneously challenging their underlying narratives.
Thom Collins, Executive Director of the Barnes Foundation, notes the exhibition’s significance in presenting the work of a leading contemporary painter who continues to push the boundaries of artistic expression. The show aligns with the institution’s commitment to highlighting remarkable women artists and their contributions to visual culture.
Brown emerged during a period when painting was considered a marginalized medium, distinguishing herself by maintaining a steadfast commitment to the art form. Her work represents a unique synthesis of figuration and abstraction, creating a visual language that is both innovative and deeply rooted in artistic tradition.
The exhibition will be on view from March 9 through May 25, 2025, at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, offering audiences a comprehensive look at one of contemporary painting’s most compelling voices.
