Cecily Brown at The Barnes Foundation

Cecily Brown’s mid-career retrospective at The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, running from March 9 to May 25, 2025, offers a rare and compelling look at one of contemporary painting’s most celebrated artists. This exhibition, “Themes and Variations”, showcases over 30 large-scale paintings and works on paper, highlighting Brown’s distinct ability to blur the line between figuration and abstraction. A bold and evocative presence in the art world, Brown’s work combines dynamic brushwork with layers of historical and cultural references, offering audiences an immersive experience that challenges perception and tradition.

Born in London in 1969 and a graduate of the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art, Cecily Brown established herself in the New York art scene in the mid-1990s. From the outset, she pushed the boundaries of painting, incorporating elements of Baroque, Rococo, and Abstract Expressionism, all while addressing contemporary themes of identity, desire, and power. Her dynamic paintings often evoke a tension between classical art history and the energy of modern life.

Cecily Brown “Themes and Variations”

In “Themes and Variations” Brown explores the narrative of fragmentation. Pieces such as “Girl on a Swing” reimagine 18th-century Rococo painting, exposing themes of voyeurism and femininity, while “The Splendid Table” pays homage to 17th-century Flemish still lifes, reinterpreted with Brown’s characteristic intensity and layered compositions. Her paintings shift between moments of clarity and abstraction.

Among the exhibition’s highlights is “Saboteur Four Times”, a four-canvas piece that reflects Brown’s embrace of digital imagery and contemporary visual culture. New works, including “Untitled”, feature striking large-scale oil monotypes, underscoring her dedication to reinvention and pushing the boundaries of painting. Brown continuously deconstructs and reconstructs the narratives embedded in traditional genres.

Curated by Simonetta Fraquelli and Anna Katherine Brodbeck, “Themes and Variations” is an invitation to engage with the strength and complexity of Cecily Brown’s work. Her ability to weave together themes of desire, destruction, and renewal creates a visual dialogue that resonates deeply with contemporary audiences.

Cecily Brown’s “Themes and Variations” at The Barnes Foundation is one of the most thought-provoking exhibits of the year. Explore the brilliance and intensity of Brown’s world before the show closes on May 25, 2025.