Jul 23 - Oct 24, 2021
In Lizi Brown’s virtual exhibition, an actual interpretation of the dictionary definition of environment appears visually through her fearless application of ink and paint on contractor paper. Her trees are buffeted by conditions that insinuate themselves through the soils and torment or sooth them by climate changes or the essential winds, sun, and rains. Seasons gain momentum, affecting limb and leaf in Brown’s portraits, “influencing the life of an individual or community,” as indeed seasons move over the plants in the landscape.
Environment: a: the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (such as climate, soil, and living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and survival. b: the aggregate of social and cultural conditions that influence the life of an individual or community.
Meriam-Webster
An absence of color would seem to correlate with an obvious simplicity, yet in Brown’s paintings, it belies her rich layering of detail, gesture, structure, light, and dark. Her exquisite use of line adds to the shape and essence of each panel. Color is in the hues and tones of black or light as it appears in the naked exposure of the paper itself. An effervescent mist of gray or deep, endless, strength of black, create images of trees as personalities.
“I love the simplicity of line.”
Lizi Brown
Each painting is a portrayal, complete with serious or playful gestures, solo or companionable interactions. A fluidity and sharpness of edges reminiscent of the Korean sensibilities, which influenced Brown, animates branches, leaves, cones, and roots, while adhering to the artist’s limited palette.
Lizi Brown is an instructor at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) at Tufts University . She teaches beginning and advanced painting (and often starts her students with ink painting). She has shown in many group exhibitions in the greater Boston area. Read an interview with Lizi Brown.
All art is ink and paint on contractor paper.
100% of proceeds from sales will go to the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition.
All rights of the images reside with the artist. For more information on making a copy, or reusing an image, please send your request to arbweb@arnarb.harvard.edu.
For information on the work itself, or to inquire about purchasing art, please also send your request to arbweb@arnarb.harvard.edu. We will put you in touch with the artist.
To best view this exhibition, hold your mouse on an image to see the small magnifier then click to get the gallery.
