Reviews, Interviews, Testimonials, and Memorials

These documents are listed in reverse chronological order. Eventually, this page will contain all known reviews and discussions of Brown’s work, as well as testimonials following his death. Where possible, I will posting links rather than the text of the documents. Where there is no web-based version of the review I will scan and post a link to the .pdf. Please let me know if any links are not working.

Testimonials and Obituaries, 2020

David Liss, Curator, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art

https://moca.ca/john-brown-1953-2020/

Olga Korper Gallery, 2020

https://www.olgakorpergallery.com/artists/john-brown

Kate Taylor, Globe and Mail, 2020

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/article-meticulous-artist-john-brown-looked-for-the-shock-of-recognition/

Jeff Noonan, “John Brown’s Body.”

https://www.jeffnoonan.org/?p=4436

Matt Janisse, “Well, What Can I Say?

Gary Blundell, “John Brown.”

Reviews and Interviews, 1982-2020

2019

Noonan, Jeff, “Hand Writing Painting.” jeffnoonan.org.

2017

Art Dealer’s Association of Canada, Notes on New Exhibition.

John Brown at Olga Korper Gallery

Noonan, Jeff, “Readings: John Brown: New Work.”

2015

In Conversation: Rachel MacFarlane and John Brown: Studio Beat, Nov. 13th, 2015.

2013

Interview with Studio Beat

http://www.studio-beat.com/studio-visit/john-brown-painter/

2011

Castor and Pollux, “Purified Paintings,” June 11, 2011. (translated from German by Janina Rosonke).

2008

Dault, Gary Michael, Globe and Mail: The Visceral Thing (Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, 2008)

Dault, Gary Michael, “Erasing For Me is Really a Form of Drawing, Globe and Mail, Feb. 23rd, 2008.

Krishtalka, Sholem, “Review of The Visceral Thing,” White Hot Magazine, 2008.

https://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/brown-museum-contemporary-canadian-art/1223

Canadian Art, “John Brown: The Visceral Thing: painting the Abstract Body in Toronto,” Feb. 14th, 2008.

2006

Dault, Gary Michael, “Exhibit A Distressed: John Brown’s Oct. 13th, 2082, Globe and Mail, Friday, Sept. 1, 2006.

2005

Dault, Gary Michael, “John Brown at Olga Korper Gallery,” Globe and Mail, January 15th, 2005.

2003

Mays, John Bentley. “Passionate Paintwork: A Brief Love Affair.” Globe and Mail. Saturday, 1 November, 2003.

Dault, Gary, “John Brown at Olga Korper Gallery,” Globe and Mail, 26 April, 2003.

2001

Mays, John Bentley, “This Punk Lived On,” National Post, 28 April, 2001.

Mays, John Bentley, “A Guide to the Galleries, John Brown at Olga Korper,” National Post, May 14th, 2001.

“Best Artists, 1981-2001,” Now Magazine, Oct.25-31, 2001.

Dault, Gary Michael, “Painting as Archeology,” Globe and Mail, May 12, 2001.

Brackett, Donald. 2001. “John Brown.” Canadian Art. Vol. 18, No. 3, Fall, 2001, pp. 103-4.

1999

Dault, Gary Michael. “A meditative journey.” The Globe and Mail Toronto, 13 March 1999.

1997

Brackett, Donald. “Painterly Inclinations.” The Financial Post 13 September 1997: 22.

Hanna, Deirdre. “John Brown’s quest for perfection.” NOW Toronto, 2-8 October 1997

Mackay, Gillian. “Gallery Going.” The Globe and Mail 27 September 1997

1996

Mays, John Bentley. “Curator traces four good reasons to renew love affair with art.” The Globe and Mail 3 August 1996

1995

Mays, John Bentley. “A carnal vocabulary for the human body.” The Globe and Mail 2 December 1995

1993

Holubizky, Ihor. “Fast Forward.” Canadian Art Spring 1993

Taylor, Kate. “Figure as Metaphor.” The Globe and Mail 8 November 1993

1990

Mays, John Bentley. “Male Body Supplants Feminist Concerns in Art of the 1990’s,” The Globe and Mail, March 17th, 1990.

Mays, John Bentley. “A ‘Lifting and Forking Machine’ and the building of male identity.” The Globe and Mail 9 March 1990

1989

Young, Jane. 1988. “Distinguishing Features,” Vanguard, 17:6, (December-January 1989), 31.

Karch, Pierre, “La Peinture defigurative de John Brown,” Vides Arts, 1989.

1988

Grosman, Penny-Lynn. “Figurative Force.” Stratford: The Gallery of Stratford, 1988

Mays, John Bentley. “Tortured portrait proof Brown is back on track.” The Globe and Mail 1 October 1988

1985

Gascon, France. “…crans politiques.” Montreal: Musee d’art contemporain de Montreal, 1985

Fraser, Matthew. “Artists’ religion inspires dark visions of the world.” The Globe and Mail 25 July 1983

1984

Burnett, David. “Toronto Painting ’84.” Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario, 1984

Mays, John Bentley. “Carefully chosen symbols.” The Globe and Mail 16 February 1984

1983

Hume, Christopher. “The Season in Review.” artmagazine Spring 1983

Fraser, Matthew. “Artists’ Religion Inspires Dark Visions of the World,” Globe and Mail, (July 25, 1983).

1982

Mays, John Bentley, “Monumenta: Promising but Haunted,” Globe and Mail, Saturday, Sept. 11th, 1982.