Alexander Brown

Des Moines - Artist Alex Brown, 52, died at his home in Des Moines Wednesday, January 30, of natural causes.

Brown was born April 23, 1966 at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines to William T. and Sibylla Brown. He attended Theodore Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and graduated from Holderness School in Plymouth, New Hampshire, where his interest in becoming an artist was ignited. He began his undergraduate studies at New York University and received a bachelor of fine arts degree from Parsons School of Design. Following graduation from Parsons, he established himself as a painter in New York, known for work that engages the viewer with abstracted interpretations of everyday images and found photos. Reviewing one of his early shows, The New York Times described him as "an inventive young New York painter [who] combines photorealism and Vasarely-style abstraction," achieving "a tension between abstraction and illusion in his pictures that is most arresting." He showed primarily at Feature in New York, as well as internationally, with solo shows in Paris, Geneva, Tokyo, Brussels and elsewhere. He was a recipient of the Rosenthal Family Foundation Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He returned to Des Moines in the late 1990s, where he also produced several notable works of public art. His work is included in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Des Moines Art Center, and various other institutions.

Brown was also a leading member of the early hardcore punk scene in Iowa, New Hampshire and then in New York, as a member of the New York bands Gorilla Biscuits, Side by Side, and Project X in the late 80s and early 90s, and a prodigious producer of zines and flyers. After playing a CBGB benefit show in 2006, Gorilla Biscuits began playing again, and toured widely throughout the world with the band to a devoted following.

Brown is survived by his parents, brothers Christopher Brown (Agustina Rodriguez) of Austin, Texas and Bill Brown of Des Moines, nephew Hugo Nakashima-Brown (Ajin Lim) of New York and Seoul, and dear cousin Katiti King of New York. A memorial will be held at a later date. Donations in memory of Alex and gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to the art department of Holderness School.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by the Des Moines Register on Feb. 3, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Alexander Brown

Sponsored by Iles Dunn’s Funeral Home.

15 Entries

1993

Anne Ghrist

January 29, 2020

Dear Sybil and DrBill-
sending hugs and warm prayers to you.
Alex's genius lives on! and passionately in his paintings. I treasure the pieces I have and the fact I got to know a little tip of the iceberg otherwise known as your son, Alex. Peace to your broken hearts.
xoxoxoxo

Ann and Bryan

January 28, 2020

Bill and Sybill,
You are in our thoughts, hearts, and minds.

February 26, 2019

My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr Brown. May prayer and many fond memories bring you comfort during this difficult time.
(1Thessalonians 5:17).

Craig Bailey

February 23, 2019

My sincere condolences for the passing of such a bright and beautiful young man. I only wish I could have known him better.

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damon Somers

February 16, 2019

What a outstanding, wonderful artist, Electronic music artist, guitarist and person. I Had the pleasure of crossing paths Alex and it has made me a better artist and I thank him for that.

February 11, 2019

Although we never met Alex personally, one knows the Child through their wonderful, kind, generous Parents, Sibylla and Bill our Friends.

We had a great sense of Alex when enjoying his artwork at the Des Moines Art Center and also at the home of Sibylla and Bill. Friends, there is a new Star in your Heaven. We mourn with you for this deep loss.

In Love and Friendship,
Don and Danielle Wirth, Woodward, IA

Keith Eaton

February 9, 2019

The sky is an aching blue
today, and cold, very cold;
for once, I don't know
what to say, either, words
pointless, drift.
North winds lean on
the creaking summer
beam, and rafters.
Scoters, buffleheads,
eiders and northern
pintails hunker down
as herring gulls float
above the river. Sun
sparkles on the water,
here, and Alex's
voice seems so near
I could wrap its air
around me, surround
myself in his laughter's
compression and
rarefaction. All I
have, though, is tinnitus,
the sound of an empty
room, an old record
echo, a passing car;
all I have is an image,
a silver halide residue
of his first skateboard
ramp, leather jacket,
peroxide hair, paint
brush fingers, crooked
laugh and awkward
jaw; all I have
is an empty line
on the receiver,
a jangle of passing
time, a gap I can
never cross
again.

February 9, 2019

May the God of all comfort sustain your family during the days ahead Psalms 119:76

Mamie Holst

February 6, 2019

I wrote this yesterday but for some reason it's not showing. I never met Alex but was in a number of shows with him . Just wanted to let you all know that we Feature Creatures as Hudson called us, are thinking about Alex and his family. Hugs.

j tremblay

February 6, 2019

What a good guy. We knew each other through work: NYC/Paris/Geneva art scene. In retrospect, I wish I had seen him on the stage or owned one of his amazing paintings, feel lucky to have gotten to know him at all. My heart goes out to friends & family.

Tom Maher

February 6, 2019

I got to Alex in Jay Mead's art class at Holderness. He was obviously a very talented artist and it was evident to everyone in the class. And yes, his knowledge and love of hardcore punk music was something I'll never forget. My condolences to Alex's family. He was one of a kind.

Zach Martin

February 5, 2019

I knew Alex from Hoyt dorm at Holderness. He was the funniest guy on our floor, and a great guy to hang out with. He introduced us all to hard core music. No surprise he stayed with it his entire life. I'm very sorry to hear of is passing. Please accept our condolences.

Rose (Johnson) McKinney

February 4, 2019

My memories of Alex are from Hanawalt Elementary School, kindergarten through sixth grade. He was always smiling and you could tell he was always thinking - attributes that no doubt served him in his music and painting.

Many years later, on a blind date with the man who became my husband, I would learn that they were second cousins. Although the two of them never met, it's a connection that makes me smile and it's a reminder that we have many connections in this world.

On behalf of the McKinneys, our hearts go out to Alex's family and friends.

Anne Ghrist

February 4, 2019

I've been thinking about Alex recently as I unpacked & rehung 4 of his early paintings in my new home. With great sadness I learn of his passing and know the world has lost a great friend. My heart goes out to Dr & Mrs Bill & the whole tribe. I'm so thankful to have been touched by Alex and his imaginative mind&hand. God bless you, Alex!, and family. Anne Ghrist

Ann Levine and Bryan McCay

February 3, 2019

We didn't have the fortune to know Alex so we aren't able to share memories of our own, but we are well aware of the incredibly creative and always forward thinking stock that is his DNA. His family nurtured Alex in ways that clearly allowed his independent ideas and spirit to flourish. What a fantastically talented individual to have lived, worked, and played in so many special worlds.

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