Deborah Brown

Nomad Exquisite

Deborah Brown’s paintings depict a female protagonist in natural spaces as she walks on the beach, journeys through the forest or paddles a canoe. Stripped of her protective and identifying clothing, she navigates the landscape as if in a dream. Her nudity makes her seem simultaneously vulnerable and powerful as if she has returned to archaic origins. The presence of a canine companion implies a departure or exile from a domestic setting as well as an unseen threat that might require protective services. The imagery of a boat woman (the “Death Maiden”) recalls Charon the ferryman from Greek mythology who conducted the souls of the dead across the River Styx from the world of the living to the world of the dead.
Nomad Exquisite is taken from the title of a poem by Wallace Stevens that explores the relationship between nature and the observer. As viewers, our role is ambiguous. Are we intruder, rescuer, stalker or friend? The artist locates us close to the protagonist but we remain unsure of the narrative we observe and our place in it.
Deborah Brown
Canoeist 7, 2019

oil on canvas

48 x 60 inches

 

Deborah Brown
Departure 2, 2020

oil on canvas

30 x 24 inches

 

Deborah Brown
Canoeist 2, 2019

oil on canvas

88 x 77 inches

 

Deborah Brown
Deep End, 2019

oil on canvas

60 x 48 inches

 

Deborah Brown
Lookout, 2020

oil on canvas

40 x 28 inches

SOLD

Deborah Brown
Death Maiden 6, 2020

oil on canvas

40 x 28 inches

 

Deborah Brown
Ashore, 2019

oil on canvas

48 x 60 inches

 

Deborah Brown
Death Maiden 7, 2020

oil on canvas

48 x 60 inches

 

Deborah Brown
Overlook, 2019

oil on canvas

88 x 77 inches

 

Deborah Brown
Canoeist 1, 2021

Two plate white ground, sugarlift and aquatint etching printed on Rives BFK white paper

Edition 3/18

22 x 30 inches

 

Deborah Brown
Canoeist II, 2021

Two plate white ground, sugarlift and aquatint etching printed on Rives BFK white paper

Edition 3/18

22 x 30 inches

SOLD

Deborah Brown
Canoeist III, 2021

Two plate white ground, sugarlift and aquatint etching printed on Rives BFK white paper

Edition 3/18

22 x 30 inches

 

Deborah Brown
Canoeist IV, 2021

Two plate white ground, sugarlift and aquatint etching printed on Rives BFK white paper

Edition 3/18

22 x 30 inches

 

Deborah Brown
Canoeist V, 2021

Two plate white ground, sugarlift and aquatint etching printed on Rives BFK white paper

Edition 3/18

22 x 30 inches

 

Deborah Brown
Canoeist VI, 2021

Two plate white ground, sugarlift and aquatint etching printed on Rives BFK white paper

Edition 3/18

22 x 30 inches

SOLD

Deborah Brown
Dark Horse, 2019

oil on canvas

36 x 36 inches

 

Deborah Brown
Pale Horse, Pale Rider, 2019

oil on canvas

36 x 36 inches

 

Deborah Brown
Tender Foot, 2019

oil on canvas

36 x 36 inches