Meet the Artist—Cecily Brown: Death and the Maid

Go behind the scenes with artist Cecily Brown, who discusses the inspiration and making of Cecily Brown: Death and the Maid, the first full-fledged museum survey of Brown’s work in New York since she made the city her home.

Go behind the scenes with artist Cecily Brown, who discusses the inspiration and making of Cecily Brown: Death and the Maid, the first full-fledged museum survey of Brown’s work in New York since she made the city her home.

Cecily Brown: Death and the Maid assembles a select group of some fifty paintings, drawings, sketchbooks, and monotypes from across her career to explore the intertwined themes of still life, memento mori, mirroring, and vanitas—symbolic depictions of human vanity or life’s brevity—that have propelled her dynamic and impactful practice for decades.

On view April 4th, 2023 through December 3rd, 2023.

The exhibition is made possible by The Modern Circle and Agnes Gund.

Additional support is provided by Neuberger Berman Private Wealth, the Jeffrey and Leslie Fischer Family Foundation, and Barbara and John Vogelstein.

The catalogue is made possible by The Modern Circle.

Additional support is provided by the Forman Family Foundation, Liza Mauer and Andrew Sheiner, Paula Cooper Gallery, and Thomas Dane Gallery.

Production Credits:
Director: Kate Farrell
Producer: Melissa Bell
Editor: Lucas Groth
Camera: Josh Kun
Key Grip: Andrew Nguyen
Production Coordinator: Lela Jenkins
Music: Austin Fisher
Special thanks to: Cecily Brown, Emily Florido, and Ian Alteveer

© 2023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art


Two men stand together in a black-and-white photo. The man in front wears sunglasses, a patterned coat, and a beret. The man behind wears glasses and a jacket, exuding a serious, contemplative mood. Dark buildings silhouette the background.
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