Cecily Brown’s “Death and the Maid” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC
On my recent visit to New York City, I had the privilege of attending the solo, mid-career exhibition of renowned British painter Cecily Brown at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Cecily, a powerhouse in the art world for the past three decades, teamed up with curator Ian Alteveer to present a stunning collection of 50 pieces spanning the last 20 years of her career. The exhibition predominantly features oil paintings on stretched linen, complemented by a selection of her gouache works and insightful sketchbooks, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in various facets of her creative process.
The show’s tone vividly captures Cecily's exploration of vanity, death, gore, and sexuality. Some of her most impactful works depict women and their reflections in mirrors, morphing into skulls as the viewer's gaze shifts between the two. This visual interplay creates a narrative that invites interpretation through the observer's lens. Cecily consistently blends representations of the flesh of the human figure with the intense lushness of overripe fruit. This creates a unique stylistic fusion of ornamental opulence with the subconscious chaos of abstract expressionism. Her palette is rich and evocative, featuring rich reds, plums, browns, and ochres conjuring images of violent autopsies, while simultaneously evoking the tempting creamy textures of bowls of cream and lemon curd.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art serves as the perfect host for this exhibition. Cecily has expressed being influenced by 17th and 18th-century painters such as Rubens and Goya. The Met offers visitors an in-depth historical context with such European painters and their work. The juxtaposition of Cecily's contemporary pieces with traditional masterpieces of the past highlights how she both honors and reinterprets classic themes. Visitors travel through time yet experience similar, traditional subjects. Cecily, while honoring the traditional Western canon, provides a fresh perspective that bridges centuries of artistic expression.
Congratulations to Cecily, Ian, and all the fortunate visitors who had the privilege of experiencing this remarkable show.
More about Cecily and the Exhibition can be seen here. Ian Alteveer has since left The Met after 17 years to join the Museum of Fine Arts Boston as Chair. 01.20.2024
Left to Right, Top to Bottom: 1. Gallery View-1, 2. Gallery-View 2, 3. Aujourd'hui rose 2005, 4. Lobsters, Oysters, Cherries and Pearls 2005, 5. Private Collection Piece, 6. All Is Vanity 2006, 7. Untitled 2007, 8. Untitled 2021, 9. Selfie 2020, 10. Not You For Me 2013, 11. Fair of Face Full of Woe 2008, 12. The Picnic 2006, 13. Hangover Square 2005, 14. Nature Morte 2020, 15. A Year on Earth 2020-21, 16. Gallery View-3. (All Artwork,© Cecily Brown. Photos, Ellen Mattesi.
