Native to Boston’s North Shore, self-taught artist Anne Brown has been widely recognized for her artwear necklaces and larger sculpture and assemblages, brought to fruition through her own life experiences and observations. A mother of two children by the time she was 20, Brown made daily trips to a local fish market and found inspiration in the delicate yet strong nature of fish bones. The bones were incorporated into her practice as components of jewelry. From there, she started thinking of other organic materials that could be treated and worn. These included insects, car-flattened frogs and snakes, dried bird feet and similar remains, some of which were brought to her by neighborhood children and her cats. An early visit with the legendary Paul Smith at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts in NYC, served as an inspiration to continue her exploration and combination of unusual materials, which encouraged commentary, broke barriers and fostered avant garde perspectives.

In the 1970’s Anne Brown and Deena des Rioux co-founded “Seven At Large” (1977-98), which included esteemed photographer Olivia Parker. This led to the seminal show “Organic Visions, Seven at Large,” an 18-month semi-permanent installation at the Design Around Us Gallery, Boston Museum of Science. Receiving increasing recognition, her work was featured in a three-part exhibition “American Images I & II at the Goethe Institute between 1974 and 1976, Boston, MA. Cited for her use of materials and design, she was selected by esteemed juror Ivy Ross as one of ten contemporary jewelry artists, whose work was presented at the “International Collectors Seminar, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, NYC, 1981.

As a female artist, Anne found ways to rally against the patriarchy in a subtle and sometimes not so subtle manner. In her “Life Cycle” series, the piece “Maturity” is a necklace featuring small dollhouse-like objects. There are a baby carriage, wine bottle, car, house and, upon closer inspection, the artist’s IUD (a form of birth control). Increasingly her necklaces became an art form, wherein the body was the exhibition space and the content and materials controlled the conversation between herself and the viewer.

In 1988 Anne Brown had a solo exhibition, “Natural Selection,” at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. The show was described by the museum as a “provocative collection of works from an artist who has gone directly to nature as a source of raw material in an attempt to break down the barriers that keep us blind to nature’s raw beauty.” Her creations, particularly the organic jewelry, were devoted to the “transformation of familiar objects” into the unexpected. Many of the pieces have a totem potency, communicating the feeling of primitive prayer sticks, fetishes or ritual objects. Brown’s ideas surface in a variety of ways. Although she works at times with a “concept that comes into my mind,” she is also intrigued by how the synchronicity in chance juxtaposition generates consideration which demands a physical presence. Finally, an object can be powerful enough to carry a message that impresses itself on her imagination for use.

In the 1980’s Anne Brown’s sculpture-to-wear became a stepping-off point for larger sculpture and assemblage made of found and resurrected materials. More recently she began working with driftwood, selected from New England beaches. Believing that she is the channel for what each piece has to say, she often spends years defining its subtle presentation.

Throughout her career, Brown has exhibited nationally and internationally in numerous galleries, institutions and museums, including most recently Rose Burlingame Projects, NYC. In 2022 she was selected to participate with Art Sales and Research in the International Outsider Art Show, NYC. Also, she received a $5,000 grant from the Mass Cultural Recovery Program to help fund artist growth during the pandemic. In 2024, Anne Brown’s work was featured at the “Untitled” art fair during Art Week Miami Beach. Art Sales and Research was reviewed on Artnet as one of the fair’s top 10 booths from the 180 galleries exhibiting.