User:BMajic/Jan Brown

= DRAFT: Jan Brown AM = Jan Brown AM (Beatrice Caroline Brown) (29 April 1922 - 9 January 2022) was an Australian sculptor, printmaker and art teacher. Subject matters of her sculptures primarily focussed on bird and animal forms. She was born in Sydney, New South Wales and passed away in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.

Personal Life
Brown moved from Sydney to England in 1947 with her then fiancee Desmond Brown. In 1957, Brown moved back to Canberra, Australia from London, UK with her husband and family. She had three children, Michael, Julia and Paul. She was of Catholic belief. In January 2022 after Brown's death, Sasha Grishin published an article in The Canberra Times exclaiming her 'extraordinary talent and passion'. She is buried at the Hall Cemetery.

Education and Career
Brown studied at the Chelsea School of Art in London, where she received her National Diploma in Design (Sculpture) and studied under English artist Henry Moore. Her teaching career began in 1954 at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. In 1992, Brown was awarded a Member of Order of Australia as recognition of her service to sculpture and arts administration.

Brown was Canberra's first professional sculptor.

Despite her education and established career as an artist and teacher, Brown noted that she was often held back from an even greater career as a result of being a female, a wife and a mother.

From 1986 to 1991, Brown was a Member of the ACT Arts Development Board. From 1992 to 1994, she was the Chair for the Visual Arts Sub-Committee, ACT Cultural Council. She was an Artist Assessor for the Vietnam War Memorial Competition between 1991 and 1992. From 1989 to 1993, Brown was Deputy Chair of the Australian National Capital Artists Steering Committee (ANCA). From 1992 to 1995, she was a member for Organising Committee Canberra, National Sculptural Forum.

Public Art Installations

 * Large playground sculpture, Hertfordshire County, England, 1940s
 * Kangaroos, bronze sculptures, Nerang Pool, Commonwealth Park, 1981
 * Icarus, series of four bronze sculptures, Petrie Plaza, Civic, Canberra, 2009

Legacy
As a former long serving staff member and Head of Foundation for the Australian National University's School of Art and Design, Brown established and further supported the annual Jan Brown Drawing Prize at the Australian National University. With a value of $1,500, the prize recognises outstanding artistic merit of students in the School of Art and Design.

Brown's work is represented in various collections including:


 * National Gallery of Australia
 * National Library of Australia
 * Australian Parliament House
 * Australian National University
 * Canberra Museum and Gallery
 * University of Canberra
 * Artbank

Awards and Honours

 * Emeritus Award for Visual Arts (Australia Council), 1992
 * Member of the Order of Australia, 1992
 * Advance Australia Foundation Award, 1994
 * ACT International Women's Day Award, 2005
 * International Women's Day Award, 2010