It’s quite the zoo at Shain Gallery, with a collection of 28 animal paintings by Josh Brown, displayed August 6 through 19. Every piece in this exciting solo show will feature unique animal species in both small and large sizes, and were completed in response to the artist’s isolation from friends and family during quarantine “and the elation we feel being reunited,” says Brown.

“These paintings are about companionship, friendship, maternity and paternity,” Brown adds. “They are about family, no matter the form. These paintings are about taking care of those closest to you and being there for your neighbor too. The didactic nature of my work is about showing people that they are loved.”Sloth, mixed media on canvas, 36 x 36"

Brown is constantly experimenting, observing and working out new methods for communicating his themes of connectedness, love and “seeing one another.” A large part of his painting process is dedicating a lot of time to development and always working to improve what he sees for his storytelling techniques.

Also part of Brown’s process is his library of digital and mental references that he’s accumulated over his lifetime. “Many of the animals in this show are inspired by experiences I have had with friends at zoos across the United States,” he explains. “The sloth and sloth baby [in the aptly titled Sloth] that I painted are inspired by an encounter at the Chicago Zoo. The pair of Red Pandas [in Red Panda] are from an experience at the Central Park Zoo. Many of the farm animals I paint are from my time hiking in Switzerland with family.”Zebra, mixed media on canvas, 48 x 48"

The new collection of work for Brown’s show is a culmination of many years of admiration. “I have loved animals for as far back as I can remember,” says Brown. “They are honest and straightforward.
I appreciate that openness. Technically, the paintings are the product of over two decades of experimentation. In an effort to communicate as plainly as my subject, I work my tools with simple and confident mark making.”Red Panda, mixed media on canvas, 36 x 36"

Whimsy and joy are also quite evident in this show collection, especially in pieces like American Pekin Duck, showing three ducks waddling across a pink background. This simple act of joy, that often comes in childhood, is also a present theme. “What surprises me the most is that as a child you feel there is some secret to being happy that you will discover when you grow up,” Brown furthers. “When you finally do start to grow up, you learn that the most precious secret to happiness is to remember what it was like to see the world as a child. That mentality is certainly a driving force behind these paintings. It has taken years to embrace this mindset, and I am still working on it.”American Pekin Duck, mixed media on canvas, 48 x 48"

Brown hopes that collectors develop a greater love and appreciation for each other through the stories in his work. “Our time together is brief, so why not make it a time full of acceptance and appreciation?” says Brown. “I am so grateful to all of the collectors, and to Shain Gallery, for making it possible for me to create what I love and to share that with the world.” 

Shain Gallery
2823 Selwyn Avenue, Suite K • Charlotte, SC 28209
(704) 334-7744 • www.shaingallery.com 

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