SACRED BONES SERIES (2022-present)
Sacred Bones is inspired by anatomical drawings Brown made in high school that were rediscovered in 2022. She is drawn to the empirical truth of skeletons, as well as to the metaphorical messages they contain. “Skeletons are literally the scaffolds for our bodies in life, and what remains when our bodies decay in death. Without flesh, skeletons are also free from conventional notions of beauty and allow us to appreciate our similarities and uniqueness as a species.”
Bone fragments—human and animal—have been used throughout the ages as substrates for artmaking. Brown’s earliest memories of this were the intricate ivory Japanese Netsuke figurines that her grandfather collected. She was transfixed by these figurines and would spend long hours examining them.
In the series, Brown uses the human skeleton as a point of departure to create imaginary bonelike forms that are highly decorated much like the Netsuke figures. Through this decoration, she uplifts and celebrates skeletal remains.
A selection of works from this series are below.
Sacred Bones: Breathe, 2024, Acrylic on Panel. 20"L x 16"W. Photo credit: Jim Gipe, Pivot Media. On display at the New Bedford Museum of Art, June 6-Aug. 24, 2025. Juror: Carmen Hermo, Lorraine and Alan Bressler Curator of Contemporary Art at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
Sacred Bones: Interior, 2022, Egg Tempera on Panel. Framed size: 17.75" L x 21.75" W Maren Brown. artist. Photo credit: Jim Gipe, Pivot Media.
Sacred Bones: Rediscovery, 2024, Egg Tempera and Acrylic on Panel. Framed Size: 9"L x 13"W. Maren Brown. artist. Photo credit: Jim Gipe, Pivot Media.
Sacred Bones: Still Standing, 2024, Acrylic on Panel. Framed Size: 25.5"L x 19.5"W. Maren Brown. artist. Photo credit: Jim Gipe, Pivot Media.
Sacred Bones: Visitation, 2024, Acrylic on Panel. Unframed Size: 20"L x 30"W. Maren Brown. artist. Photo credit: Jim Gipe, Pivot Media.
Sacred Bones: Column, 2024, Acrylic on Panel. Framed Size:15.75”L x 12.75” W. Maren Brown. artist. Photo credit: Jim Gipe, Pivot Media.
Sacred Bones: Red Orb, 2024, Acrylic on Panel. Framed Size: 9”L x 9” W. Maren Brown. artist. Photo credit: Jim Gipe, Pivot Media.
Sacred Bones: Mask, 2024, Acrylic on Panel. Framed Size: 17.75”L x 21.75” W. Maren Brown. artist. Photo credit: Jim Gipe, Pivot Media.