Artists, archeologists, poets, actors, gallerists and more turned out to celebrate the first solo show by Eric L Brown when he opened "E. L. Brown: Monday Paintings" at ILLE Arts on Aug. 24, 2013. The exhibition presented an array of recent and new works by Brown. The paintings were made mostly on a Monday while Brown worked from his studio in New Paltz while away from Tibor de Nagy Gallery in New York City, a gallery he co-owns with Andrew Arnot.
The idea for a solo show took root last summer when Brown visited ILLE Art to attend an art exhibition, he said. Brown thought the space and the white pristine walls would be conducive to exhibiting his paintings, which are intimate in size and are mostly dark in tone. Gallerist Sara De Luca connected with his work and plans began for Brown's first solo to be held at the Amgansett gallery.
Even though this is the first time Brown's art has been exhibited, he has been making paintings for decades, he explained. Brown attended Vassar College as an art studio major and continued painting after graduation, even while his career led him to become a gallery owner, he said.
A separate story on Brown's artwork will publish shortly at Hamptons Art Hub. Meanwhile, following is a look at the some of the cultural community who turned to show their support and receive a first look at Brown's paintings:
A crowd gathered at ILLE Arts for the reception of E.L. Brown's solo exhibition "Monday Paintings" on Aug 24, 2013 at ILLE Arts. Photo: Daniel Torok/PatrickMcMullan.com. ©Patrick McMullan. Courtesy ILLE Arts.
Ian Spencer Bell, Eric Brown and Doug Duncan. Bell is a dancer, choreographer and writer. He is also Brown's partner. ©Patrick McMullan. Photo: Daniel Torok/PatrickMcMullan.com. Courtesy ILLE Arts.
Artists Christa Maiwald and Jan Peterson. Paintings by Don Christensen were presented in a separate solo show in an adjacent gallery at ILLE Arts. Christensen's exhibition had an opening the following night. ©Patrick McMullan. Photo: Daniel Torok/PatrickMcMullan.com. Courtesy ILLE Arts.
A few of the "Monday Paintings" by E.L. Brown installed at ILLE Arts in Amagansett. ©Patrick McMullan. Photo: Daniel Torok/PatrickMcMullan.com. Courtesy ILLE Arts.
Artist and Vassar College schoolmate Rebecca Odes with actress Sarah Jessica Parker, Eric Brown and actors Matthew Broderick and John Leguizamo. ©Patrick McMullan. Photo: Daniel Torok/PatrickMcMullan.com. Courtesy ILLE Arts.
Karen Koch, Clarice Rivers and David Joel, Executive Director of the Larry Rivers Foundation. ©Patrick McMullan. Photo: Daniel Torok/PatrickMcMullan.com. Courtesy ILLE Arts.
Egyptian Archaeology Stephen Harvey, Pat Peterson, a former NY Times Fashion Editor, and finance attorney Perry Sayles. ©Patrick McMullan. Photo: Daniel Torok/PatrickMcMullan.com. Courtesy ILLE Arts.
Poet Max Freeman and artist Robert Anderson. ©Patrick McMullan. Photo: Daniel Torok/PatrickMcMullan.com. Courtesy ILLE Arts.
Courtney Brown, Justine Leguizamo and Carol Brown. ©Patrick McMullan. Photo: Daniel Torok/PatrickMcMullan.com. Courtesy ILLE Arts.
Eric Brown speaks with ILLE Arts Director Sarah DeLuca and artist Jenny Hankwitz.©Patrick McMullan. Photo: Daniel Torok/PatrickMcMullan.com. Courtesy ILLE Arts.
A few views of the "Monday Paintings":
Detail of installation at ILLE Arts of "E.L. Brown: Monday Paintings". ©Patrick McMullan. Photo: Daniel Torok/PatrickMcMullan.com. Courtesy ILLE Arts.
Detail of installation at ILLE Arts of "E.L. Brown: Monday Paintings". ©Patrick McMullan. Photo: Daniel Torok/PatrickMcMullan.com. Courtesy ILLE Arts.
"Little Yellow" by E.L. Brown installed at ILLE Arts. ©Patrick McMullan. Photo: Daniel Torok/PatrickMcMullan.com. Courtesy ILLE Arts.
BASIC FACTS: "E.L. Brown: The Monday Paintings" is on view from Aug. 24 to Sept. 16, 2013 at ILLE Arts, 216a Montauk Hwy., Amagansett, NY 11930. www.illearts.com.
Worth seeing is coverage of the E.L. Brown opening and after-exhibition party by Jill Krementz for New York Social Diary. Click here to view.