ARTIST STATEMENT
I created the diptych American MUD 2024 directly after the November 5th presidential election. During the election season I explored the Buddhist symbol for the lotus (Kamala means lotus). A Zen verse says, “May we exist in muddy water with purity, like a lotus.” As we entered into #47’s second term I needed to paint the mud from my point of view and sorrow as a woman.
Panel 1, #47 MUD, is filled with misogynist statements Trump has made, many were about women he has run against. Panel 2, MANOSPHERE MUD, is filled with posts from men. One phrase “Your body, my choice forever” by Nick Fuentes was viewed over 35 million times, a 4,600 percent increase within 24 hours of the election results. I was aghast equally at the influence of our next President’s misogynist words on young men who were empowered to echo him freely and the reception by millions who viewed and retweeted them.
January 20th: I sat in silence looking at American MUD 2024 on January 20th, 2025, while Trump was taking the oath of office. I started to see the words of the oath mixed together with the words on #47 MUD. Phrases like “I solemnly swear to grab her by the pussy” appeared to me. After an hour of continued silence, I started to see the words from both paintings mix together, further impressing upon me the relationship between Trump and the MANOSPHERE. I continue to learn from this diptych.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Patricia Brown creates art in her Wild Spirit Art Studio on the edge of a gorge in Ithaca, New York. Brown creates drawings, paintings, collages, stitcheries and mixed media assemblages. In 2025, Brown has taken her art to the streets to help defend democracy.
Her artwork has been shown in venues such as Rude ad Bold Women, the Spool Factory, Russell Sage Art Gallery, Forman Gallery, Yeager Museum, Impact Gallery, Center Way Gallery, Woman Made Gallery and the Cooperstown Art Association. Brown’s stitched Remnant Series is featured on TextileArtist.org in an article titled “Patricia Brown: From Rags to Stitches.” Brown’s drawings have been published in Traveling Through Glass (Cayuga Lake Books), a collaboration with poet Lisa Harris.
Brown’s artist catalogs Square Spaces, Abstract Painting, 2024 and Retreat, collage in COVID Confinement, 2021 are available through State of the Art Gallery.. Patrica Brown taught visual art in public schools in central New York State; where she was awarded Art Educator of the Year. She holds a MS in Visual Arts Education from State University College at Buffalo. Artist, Patricia Brown, now works as a creative art coach and educational consultant in the visual arts.
© Patricia Brown