Jean Brown (December 20, 1911 – May 1, 1994) was born in Brooklyn, New York, and is best known for her work as a librarian and art collector . [1] Her papers were acquired by the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles, California, in 1985. [2]
Brown worked as a librarian. [3] She lived in Massachusetts. [3] Her home in Tyringham, MA, became a meeting place for Fluxus artists. [3] The Shaker Seed, as it was called, was an 1845 Shaker house. [3] [1]
Brown's father was a rare-book dealer in Brooklyn. [2] Her husband, Leonard Brown, worked as an insurance agent. [2]
Brown collected art with her husband Leonard Brown (1909–1970). [4] They began collecting Abstract Expressionism, but turned to Dada and Surrealism when AbEx became too expensive. [4] Brown collected 6,000 artworks by Fluxus, beginning in the 1970s. [3]
Brown's collecting developed in parallel to her friendships with artists. [4] Duchamp visited the Browns at their home. [4] She cultivated a lifelong friendship with George Maciunas, from whom she purchased Fluxus artworks. [3] Brown commissioned Maciunas to design a room in her house to house her Fluxus collection. [3]
In addition to Fluxus, Brown collected Surrealism, Dada, and post-war art. [3] Brown's collection was the first collection of contemporary art by the Getty. [4] It was acquired for its strengths in Dada and Surrealism; the Fluxus materials and artists' books were an unexpected acquisition. [5]
Finding Aid for the Jean Brown Papers, 1916-1995 (bulk 1958-1985) at the Getty Research Institute. It includes a biographical/ historical section.
Jean Brown (December 20, 1911 – May 1, 1994) was born in Brooklyn, New York, and is best known for her work as a librarian and art collector . [1] Her papers were acquired by the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles, California, in 1985. [2]
Brown worked as a librarian. [3] She lived in Massachusetts. [3] Her home in Tyringham, MA, became a meeting place for Fluxus artists. [3] The Shaker Seed, as it was called, was an 1845 Shaker house. [3] [1]
Brown's father was a rare-book dealer in Brooklyn. [2] Her husband, Leonard Brown, worked as an insurance agent. [2]
Brown collected art with her husband Leonard Brown (1909–1970). [4] They began collecting Abstract Expressionism, but turned to Dada and Surrealism when AbEx became too expensive. [4] Brown collected 6,000 artworks by Fluxus, beginning in the 1970s. [3]
Brown's collecting developed in parallel to her friendships with artists. [4] Duchamp visited the Browns at their home. [4] She cultivated a lifelong friendship with George Maciunas, from whom she purchased Fluxus artworks. [3] Brown commissioned Maciunas to design a room in her house to house her Fluxus collection. [3]
In addition to Fluxus, Brown collected Surrealism, Dada, and post-war art. [3] Brown's collection was the first collection of contemporary art by the Getty. [4] It was acquired for its strengths in Dada and Surrealism; the Fluxus materials and artists' books were an unexpected acquisition. [5]
Finding Aid for the Jean Brown Papers, 1916-1995 (bulk 1958-1985) at the Getty Research Institute. It includes a biographical/ historical section.