Cecily Brown is preparing for her first major museum exhibition in her native London at the Serpentine Gallery, titled 'Picture Making'. The show features new and old paintings, monotypes, and drawings inspired by Kensington Gardens, marking a significant return for the artist who left for New York in the 1990s. Despite her commercial success with Gagosian and inclusion in major museums, she expresses nervousness about the critical reception.
Brown's career trajectory highlights a divergence from the dominant Young British Artists (YBAs) like Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas, who favored conceptual work, while she steadfastly pursued painting. The article explores her artistic influences, including her late-discovered father, critic David Sylvester, and her practice of reworking art historical references. Her return to London with a major institutional show underscores her enduring relevance and the ongoing dialogue between figurative painting and contemporary art movements.