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“The Art of Joy Brown” art exhibition and documentary on display at Hotchkiss’ Tremaine Art Gallery
As part of The Hotchkiss School’s celebration of 50 years of co-education, the Tremaine Art Gallery presents “The Art of Joy Brown,” on view from February 15 through April 6.
An internationally known sculptor, Joy Brown is known for her “larger-than-life” human figures which grace public spaces from Beijing all the way to New York City. Regardless of where the figures end up, each large bronze sculpture begins as a clay figure fired at Brown’s home studio in Kent, CT.
The exhibit traces the evolution of Brown’s work, from tiny clay figures and clay puppets, to small statues and wall tiles, and finally, to the monumental work found in public spaces. Brown writes, “My pieces speak of that peaceful place within – calm, open, and aware.”
Brown’s work has previously been exhibited in the United States, Europe, Japan, and China. In addition to her figures, this exhibit will include her drawings, early figures, and three dimensional wall installations. Three large sculptures, “Sitter with Head in Hands,” “Recliner with Head in Hands,” and “One Leaning on Another,” can be found on the Hotchkiss campus through May of 2025.
The Art of Joy Brown, the documentary
The public is also invited to the Walker Auditorium at The Hotchkiss School on March 6 from 7-8pm, to view excerpts of the documentary, The Art of Joy Brown, which is set to be released soon. Following the showing, there will be a panel discussion with Joy Brown, Christine Owen (instructor of ceramics), Ann Villano (instructor of film), and Eduardo Montes-Bradley, the documentary filmmaker.
On Montes-Bradley’s website, it states, “Eduardo Montes-Bradley explores the life and artistry of an American sculptor deeply influenced by the ancient ceramic traditions of China and Japan. From her home studio in Connecticut, Joy Brown reflects on her early experiences in the East, shaped by the legacy of her missionary parents and grandparents who lived in China and Japan. Growing up between these two cultures, she blends their influences into her work, producing powerful bas-reliefs, panels, murals, and statues crafted from clay and bronze, all of which resonate with reflections on human nature.”
Montes-Bradley immersed himself in Brown’s creative journey over a period of three years, “capturing the collaborative essence behind her distinctive bronze and ceramic sculptures.”
“The film highlights the voices of her closest collaborators and takes the audience to the mountains of Wakayama, where her mentor, Shige Morioka, practices his craft,” Montes-Bradley’s website states. “It also follows Joy to a studio near Shanghai, where a dedicated team of artisans bring her monumental bronze sculptures to life, and features private collectors like Dave Matthews, who share their deep connection to her work.”
Montes-Bradley’s film is described as “an intimate portrayal of an artist whose passion for simplified human forms and a deeply humanistic view of nature comes alive on screen.”
This program is free and open to the public. “The Art of Joy Brown” is on display at the Tremaine Art Gallery, located in Hotchkiss’ main academic building, from February 15 through April 6. The Tremaine Art Gallery in The Hotchkiss School, located at 11 Interlaken Road, Lakeville, CT, is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-4pm and Sundays from 12-4pm.
