" 'Identity' brings to the fore issues of patrimony and consumerism. The figure, intentionally blue in hue to eliminate race or ethnicity, shows an Antigua and Barbuda passport with a barcode tag juxtaposed on a finger, whilst adorned with a flower crown against a gold halo. The painting is a deliberate introspection on the interactions of humans and the environment. It echoes the specific challenge our communities face with the threat of loss of who we are and where we live. We are reminded that the flora and fauna of our unique landscapes face compromise through 'development' within an environmental context. Our very livelihoods are threatened by our own idiosyncrasies."
- Mark Brown
Artist Biography
Mark Brown is one of Antigua and Barbuda’s leading contemporary artists and for the last decade, his work has gone from scenic Caribbean scenes to paintings and images that question the human condition.
Mark Brown was born to be an artist and by the time he finished his secondary education, Mark’s work was already winning kudos from fellow artists. Brown became an art teacher, whilst at the same time developing his art and experimenting with Media – from Photography to Ceramics and eventually Oil on Canvas.
In between teaching and developing his art, Mark began designing stage sets for major local events including Carnival Queen Pageants, Official State Visits, and Corporate Events. He is a renowned stylist, highly sought-after to dress business establishments and curate high-end wedding experiences under the Mark Brown Weddings brand.
In 2004 he left Antigua in order to pursue a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Studio Art at the Barbados Community College, where his portfolio grew to include film and Printmaking. His graduation portfolio caused a sensation in Barbados and as a result, his work was exhibited in a private show at the Zemicon Gallery in Barbados and the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda.
His work continued to be exhibited locally at leading Galleries to include Woods Art Gallery, Harmony Hall, Jumby Bay and Heavenly Hill. Mark’s paintings have also been featured in the Prime Minister’s Office and the homes of several collectors including, International star, Diana Ross, Ambassador to Venezuela, Joan Underwood, business woman J. Valerie Hodge and Author Claudia E. Ruth Francis. His work has also been shown in the Carlus Centre in Toronto, Prague, Martha’s Vineyard USA, the Czech Republic, Haiti, Louisiana, France and several countries in Africa. Mark’s work was also featured in several Local, regional and international Magazines, and several international Academic Journals. In the years 2007, 2008 and 2011, he was awarded National Youth Awards for his contribution to the Visual Arts. Brown also was awarded the Carmichael Critic’s Award.
Throughout his journey as a Visual Artist, Mark has had the privilege of experiencing Art fellowships in Texas and Louisiana and has been a permanent fixture in the Art line up for the Gwadadli Festival and the Pool Art Fair in Guadeloupe. He is also a design contributor to the Guadeloupe-based United Karibean Artists brand and events.
Mark Brown is a figurative painter who is not afraid to go beyond the boundaries expected of Caribbean artists who live and work in the Caribbean. As Dr. Therese Hadchity notes, “Such bold assertions of human dignity are rare at this time and Brown is indeed a lone figure not only in his native Antigua but in the wider context of Caribbean art. Stylistically and thematically positioned between a classic figurative tradition, surrealism, and magical realism, his work defies the conceptual matrix and the ironic playfulness which defines the current moment…”
He draws inspiration from his heritage, his religion and the questions he has about life, choices and journeys. His work commands attention.
