""I don’t know what I will be painting next, I never do. I don’t start with ideas; my painting begins when inspiration grips me, kick-starting the process - seducing me with gifts and surprises. Helplessly in love with the muse’s vision, is the first step, and then ideas are born in response to the union. And once I am all in, ideas are free to change and grow through as many stages as needed so that definitive ideas can stand their ground. Ideas have my permission to assert themselves with ferocity and sometimes it can feel like I’m running to catch up with them. Without ripe ideas the paintings will lack sustenance and foundation. It’s my job to sort the good ideas from the bad and not lose my head during this remarkable love affair that gives birth to a painting. I don’t want to miss something valuable for the work. Daunting? Yes!"
Biography
Susan Brown is an American contemporary painter known for her inspired abstract or figurative work that evokes the natural landscape and human forms. While Brown works from her impressions of the natural world, she also draws upon pillars of art history—such as ancient works by Buddhist and Indian artists in the East, and from Western contemporary masters Agnes Martin and Hilma af Klint. Brown uses richly layered color creating dimensional luminosity or flat opaqueness, often with both expressions used in the same work.
Brown spent her early years traveling in the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe—painting, sailing and absorbing other cultures. Earning her BA from Vermont College, with a concentration in painting, Brown is an artist and author. Her work has culminated in solo and group shows, since 1990.
In 2010 Brown was awarded three grants from the Maine Arts Commission: totaling $119,000. Most Notably: WaterFlows, a large-scale exterior steel and resin sculpture placed adjacent to the quad at Eastern Maine Community College, Bangor ME. She also was finalist for two other percent for art commissions: 2010 for University Commons, UMaine Portland ME; and 2009, Geiger Elementary, Lewiston, ME.
Brown lives and works in New Hampshire, with her husband, artist Aaron Brown.
bout Susan Q Brown
“Singular and fully-accomplished.”
Ivan C. Karp, OK Harris Gallery, NYC
“As viewers we are invited to enter into a dynamic conversation about the natural world,
philosophy, history, art, technology . . . in short, the universe and humanity's place in it.”
Mara Williams Curator, Brattleboro Museum
“The imagery of the paintings alone are full of wonder.”
Brainard Carey Artist, Whitney Biennial 2002 & 2004, Author
“Innovative and engaging ... distinctive and memorable.”
Annaliese Bischoff Curator, University Gallery, UMASS Amherst, and Author
“Susan Brown's work is the purest poetry and an exploration with paint
of the universal issues that touch the soul. Fantastic work.”
Charles Bane Jr Globally Published Poet
CV
Susan Quaglia Brown
susanqbrown.com
Education
BA, Vermont College, Montpelier VT, concentration in painting and writing
Manchester Institute of Arts & Sciences, Manchester, NH, studied classical sculpture with
Christopher Gowell
International Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training, Milllis MA
Solo Exhibitions
2017 Paradise City Art Fair, Marlboro MA
2015 “Light” Walpole Inn, Walpole NH
2013 “Sound & Intention” Inman Square Gallery, Cambridge, MA
2011 “Wherever You Are is the Center of the World” two person major exhibition with Hari
Kirin. Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, Brattleboro VT, Curator, Mara Williams 2007 “Flying Dakinis” Kundalini Art Gallery, Wilton NH
2006 “Inspiration” Kundalini Art Gallery, Wilton NH
2003 “Taos Clouds” High Mowing School, Wilton NH
2001 “Paintings & Prints” Gallery Alexi, Chelsea NYC
1999 “Self-portrait With Tarot” Papp Gallery, SOHO NYC
1997 “Hawaii Petroglyphs” Kavehaz, SOHO NYC,
1990 “Faces” The Field Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
1989 “Birth Art” Midwives Alliance National Conference, Brookline MA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2020 Live virtual group show. Michael David, curator, NYC
2012 “Art Takes Times Square,” Broadway Plaza between 42nd and 44th Streets. Presented by
Chashama, June 18. My painting was selected for digital display between 7:15 and 7:45 PM
in Times Square for this international phenomenon.
2010 “NH Printmakers” Sharon Arts Center, Peterborough NH
2009 “Summer Exhibition” Leighton Gallery, Blue Hill ME
2008 “Art In The Public Sphere” University Gallery, U Mass Amherst,
Jurors: Vito Acconci, Annie Pasternak
2008 “NH Printmakers” Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, NH
2008 “Regional Exhibition” Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg, MA
2007 “Regional Exhibition” Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg, MA
2005 “Color” Millbrook Gallery, Concord NH
2004 “Glass Exhibition” Sharon Art Center, Peterborough, NH
2002 “Flag Project” Attleboro Museum, Attleboro MA,
2001 “Song of Songs” Papp Gallery, SOHO NYC
1998 “Reflections” Agora Gallery, SOHO NYC
1997 “Women’s Caucus for Art Exhibition” Harbor Art Gallery, UMASS, Boston MA
1997 “Voices” Shukantala Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
1997 “The Escutcheon of Opus 71” Opus 71, Hollis NH
1996 “Tension, Ideal and Expectation – The 50’s”. Opus 71, Hollis NH
1996 “Summer Exhibition” Provincetown Art Museum, Provincetown, MA
1996 “Conjunctio” Freight Room Gallery, Hancock NH
1992 “Birth Art- Miracle and Mystery” Commissioned by Midwives Alliance of North America, traveled
to: World Trade Center NYC; Gallery 53, Meriden CT; Erector Square Gallery, New Haven CT;
The Danforth Gallery, Portland ME; Nashua Center for the Arts. Artist and curator.
Public Art & Installations
2010 WaterFlows, Percent For Art Project, Eastern Maine Community College, Bangor ME, Corten
Steel and Resin Sculpture, 10 x 22 X 4 ft. Budget $55,00
2010 Four Seasons, Five Towns, Percent For Art Project, Ashland K-12, Ashland ME,
Steel, Acrylic, Mixed-media Sculpture, 40 x 10 X 4 ft. Budget $44,000
2010 Brewer Elementary School, Percent For Art Project, Brewer ME, Budget $20,000 2010 Percent
for Art Finalist, University Commons, UMaine Portland ME
2009 Percent for Art Finalist, Geiger Elementary, Lewiston, ME
2007 Meditation In The Windows 9/11/07, Kundalini Gallery, Wilton NH
2007 Mud Murals: Public Art Collaborative: High Mowing Cabin For Peace, Wilton NH 2002 Puzzle
Project, Center for Peace and Social Justice, Rivier College, NH
2002 Axis Mundi, Wilton NH, site specific installation and performances
2001-02 Flag Project: 500 handmade flags, exhibited at: State Legislature, Concord
NH; Town Hall and Police Station, Wilton NH; Town Green, Milford NH; Concord Public Library
Gallery, Concord, MA; Vermont College, Montpelier, VT; Rivier College, Nashua NH; Lesley
College, Cambridge, MA
Teaching
2006-present Owner, Nectar Farm, Lyndeborough NH. Individual and group art and yoga instruction
2003-present Kundalini Yoga Teacher
1999-2009 High Mowing School, Wilton, NH, Grades 9-12 Studio Arts Instructor
2002 NH State Council on the Arts; Arts in Education Roster, juried member 1996 Merriam Hill
Education Center, Greenfield NH, The Awakening of a Sense of Place. Presenter and panel
member
1993 Women’s Caucus for Art, N.E. Regional Conference, Yale University, Workshop Instructor,
Curating Exhibits
1984-85 Nashua Center for the Arts. Instructor, stained glass
Special Projects
2005- 2008 Co-founder of the Kundalini Yoga Studio & Art Gallery, Wilton NH, with Hari Kirin.
2010 Author of “One Heart, Four Seasons: Kundalini Yoga”
Selected Notices, Reviews and Publications
2014 Nashua Telegraph, “Art in the Family, Feb 13, Cover Arts & Entertainment
2013 Artspeak, Intention and Sound, January 2013, online edition
2010 One Heart, Four Seasons: Kundalini Yoga, Experience Present Moment
Awareness.” Author Susan Q. Brown
2008 Amherst Bulletin, Amherst MA. Kathleen Mellen. May 23. Cover: Arts and Leisure.
2006 Milford Cabinet, Milford NH. Dec 7. Cover: Stepping Out.
2001 Gallery Bill, NYC. Roxanne Collins. May edition. Pg. 11
1998 NY Arts Magazine, SoHo TriBeCa NYC. Feb-March. Agora Gallery: Pg. 18.
1996 Convergence Magazine, NH. Spring Edition. Cover.
1993 York County Coast Star, ME. May 19. Stuart Nudelman. Critic’s Choice Awards.
1993 Premier Magazine, NH. January. Susan M. Martel. Pgs. 58-59.
1993 Maine Things Considered, National Public Radio. May. Ed Morin.
1993 Record Journal, Meriden CT. August 8. Orla Swift. Pgs. F1 & F8
1992 The Telegraph, Nashua NH. Dec 6. Dorothea Tsipopoulos. Front Cover
1991 Open Season, Nancy Wainer Cohen. Bergin and Garvey, NY. Pg. 265.
1987 Art New England, April. Deborah Partington.
Collections
Paintings are held in numerous private collections throughout the United States,
Europe and South Africa