JOAN BROWN (1938-1990)
Woman with Coffee Cup, 1973

signed, signed with the artist's initials, titled and dated 'Joan Brown Woman with Coffee Cup JB 73' (lower right)
acrylic and graphite on cardboard

26 x 32 in.
66 x 81.3 cm.
Footnotes:
Provenance
Gallery Paule Anglim, San Francisco
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner in 1998

Dr. Thomas and Tecoah Bruce provided great support to the Bay Area's art institutions for over fifty years. Both born and raised in Mississippi, after marrying in 1954 and living in Tokyo for three years, the couple relocated to Northern California in 1957 where they raised their children and developed their careers. Tom began his medical career as a pathologist and was Chief of Pathology and Nuclear Medicine for a combined 20 years at a medical center in Daly City then later at a hospital in Berkeley, before running his own pathology practice.


Techoah worked at the University of California San Francisco and began taking art classes at the California College of the Arts (CCA) where she would earn both Bachelor's and Master's degrees. In addition to her highly regarded art consultancy, she was also a champion for CCA holding many leadership roles at the college: president of the Alumni Association, founding chair of the Contemporary Art and Salon Circle donor groups, and the Chair of the Board of Trustees from 1992 to 1998. She and Tom also founded the Tecoah Bruce Gallery and the Tecoah and Thomas Bruce Classrooms at CCA. Beyond her commitment to the arts at CCA, Tecoah was a member of the Board of Trustees at Berkeley Art Museum (BAMPFA). The Bruces were active members of the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University for decades beginning in 1983.


The following lots exemplify the Bruces' curatorial eye and deep knowledge of contemporary art in the Bay Area and beyond.

This work appears to be in very good condition overall. The board is adhered to the backing board with artist tape around each edge. Artist pinholes are visible in each corner. Other surface inconsistencies are apparently in keeping with the artist's working method and chosen materials.