We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sally Jane Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sally Jane below.

Alright, Sally Jane thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

I have always created–drawings, self-portraits, writing. My recent series of artwork using my body as paintbrush was initially inspired by seeing artist Yves Klein’s Anthropometries (1960), a series of events he conducted nude women to stamp their body onto wall canvases. I loved the outcome, but wanted to be the model, artist and director. Since I’ve always been interested in how my inside relates to my body, body image and gender, this was the ultimate expression and process for me! It wasn’t until I went back to graduate school for art history that I learned of other women artists using their body in their work such as Carolee Schneemann, Ana Mendieta and Brigid Berlin. Once I really realized how much women artists have been cut out of history, media, museum collections and contemporary galleries, I was on a mission to dedicate my work to women artists. So, many of my series of works include research or some connection to feminist and women artists before and around me. I love when people discover and learn about these women artists through my work. Of course, other women artists have done similar projects such as Judy Chicago, May Stevens and Mary Beth Edelson. We must continue celebrating women artists to continue breaking history’s traditions of leaving them out.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As previously mentioned, I have always been creating. I started out as a fashion design major in college, then switched to drawing because I loved the raw expressive approach. As I continued my work, and took on day jobs such as arts journalism and curating, I started to recognize women and minority artists being left out of the conversation, which led me to dedicate much of my work to honoring these artists through strategically curating exhibitions, writing, and even through my own work. I love connecting artists to collectors or curators. I am passionate about slowly looking at art, researching, and writing critical reviews for artists, journals, and gallerists. My curating (online and in galleries) allows me to provoke questions and open minds to various social justice issues while providing a platform for artists. My own artwork acknowledges the importance of the feminist lineage of art, honoring individual feminist artists before and around me through my abstracted expressive work, and through my smaller drawings and collages. I also create playful art with my body prints that I call the “breast zoo.” I have completed many commissions and have my work in three public collections. I am eager to talk to collectors about their favorite artists and types of work they would like for their homes. I also love to collaborate with other artists and writers. I have illustrated two award-winning books of poetry, with another forthcoming. My passion is art and to make a great impact, making art more accessible for all, and spreading awareness of women artists!

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes, absolutely. I wish I had more education on women artists and feminist art. I took art classes K-12, and was an art history minor as an undergraduate at university. Aside from a coffee table book my parents had at home, “Women Artists,” that I totally ignored, I truly thought (embarrassingly) that there just weren’t that many women artists throughout history and today! Not only that, but one of my professors told me I couldn’t be an artist and a mother (in 2000). So, I did quit for awhile, thinking my perspective wasn’t important enough to continue. Once I started writing art reviews for the local paper, and interviewing artists, I slowly started to see there weren’t that many exhibitions featuring women. Once I became a mother, my creative spark was re-ignited, but I still felt my perspective might not be important enough to share. I was fortunate to have a mentor, artist Wanda Ewing, who encouraged me to create “even if it stays in a pile in my basement.” I started doing research, interviewing other women artists about their work (and edited a blog about it for 10 years), and went back to school for art history. Through that and a lot of self-education, I began to see how many women artists have and continue to make work. Of course the seminal essay by Linda Nochlin, “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists,” (1971) and other feminist readings, blew my mind. I couldn’t believe what I was feeling, was felt by other women – and so many years before!! I don’t know what my trajectory would have been if I had these resources much earlier. Change is slow, but it is happening. I’m so happy and grateful for that, and enjoy continuing to learn about and see women artists succeed and be recognized!

Any advice for managing a team?

Managing a team and maintaining morale requires creativity and empathy. I really like using creative ways to do this. Here are some ideas! :

1. Team-Building Art Projects: Organize collaborative art projects where team members can express themselves creatively. This could be a mural, a digital art piece, a group poem, or even collaging. Encourage everyone to contribute their ideas and talents, fostering a sense of unity and shared accomplishment.

2. Mindful Moments: Incorporate mindfulness and relaxation techniques into your team’s routine. Schedule short art sessions like sketching, watercolor painting, or crafting that allow team members to take a break, unwind, and tap into their creative side. This can help reduce stress and boost overall well-being.

3. Storytelling Sessions: Host storytelling sessions where team members share their personal or professional stories through creative mediums such as storytelling circles, digital storytelling, or even theatrical performances. This fosters empathy, understanding, and deeper connections within the team.

4. Artistic Feedback: Encourage constructive feedback and communication through artistic means. For example, use visual metaphors, symbols, or illustrations to convey feedback during team meetings or performance reviews. This adds a creative dimension to feedback exchanges and promotes clarity.

5. Creative Challenges: Organize fun and creative challenges or competitions related to art, design, or creative problem-solving. This could be a weekly drawing challenge, a brainstorming session for innovative ideas, captioning an image, or a design sprint focused on team goals. It promotes creativity, collaboration, a sense of humor, and achievement.

6. Virtual Art Exhibitions: Showcase team members’ artistic talents and hobbies through virtual art exhibitions or talent shows. This can be done through online platforms where team members share their artwork, music, poetry, or other creative expressions. It’s a great way to appreciate diverse talents and interests within the team.

By integrating art, creativity, and storytelling into team management practices, you can create a more engaging and supportive work environment while boosting morale and team cohesion. And it’s just really fun!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sallyjanebrown.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallery_art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salleryart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallybrown8118/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/sallery_art
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq-IWz4CiR2RFYIYEV36ssQ