Ben Thorp Brown

Come see this new book! I’ll be there speaking about the book with wonderful collaborators Annie Godfrey Larmon, Robert Wiesenberger, and Valentijn Goethals. @artbookps1 RSVP to the link in bio.. In 2023, American artist Ben Thorp Brown opened Cura’s Garden, a long-term, immersive exhibition set in the medieval garden of Kunsthal Gent, a former Carmelite monastery. Expanding on the Roman myth of Cura, the project brings together a theatrical assortment of trees and other flora, fog, sculpture, and sound—elements that cohere into a dense, indeterminate sensorial experience. This richly illustrated volume, organized around the seasons, features vivid documentation across two years of the garden’s young life alongside linocut botanical prints by the artist’s mother, Cary Thorp Brown. New essays by @lmcleanferris Laura McLean-Ferris, @lauriecluitmans Laurie Cluitmans, @robert.wiesenberger Robert Wiesenberger explore the conceptual, formal, art historical, and affective valences of Cura’s Garden, and a roundtable conversation between Brown and @laurammherman Laura Herman, Jan Minne, and @valentijn_goethals Valentijn Goethals considers the history and development of the project, from the artist’s 2019 film Cura, a precursor to the garden, through present concerns around the maintenance and unfolding nature of this site-specific work. Cura’s Garden Ben Thorp Brown 8.75 × 11.75 inches, 152 pages, hardcover ISBN 978-1-941753-94-1 @inventorypress @roma.publications @kunsthalgent

The film Cura returns to the Capc @capcmusee following its initial presentation in 2019 as part of the Satellite programme developed jointly with the Jeu de Paume @jeudepaumeparis in Paris. Filmed in the VDL Research House II @vdlhouse , designed by the modernist architect Richard Neutra in Los Angeles, Cura features a tortoise embodying the Roman goddess of “care”, a mythological figure associated with the creation and nurturing of humankind. As the animal slowly moves through the house, it delivers a monologue combining mythology with excerpts from Survival by Design (1954), in which Neutra considers architecture as a tool capable of shaping human emotions and behaviour. The voice of the tortoise — at times spoken, at times sung — is performed by the American vocalist Joan La Barbara, accompanied on cello by Ethan Philbrick. Through this narrative device, Ben Thorp Brown explores how built environments shape our relationships with others and with the world around us. The film forms part of the broader speculative project The Arcadia Center, imagined as a training centre for empathy in a world in crisis. Cura 2019 4K video, 5.1 sound 17’34’’ Coproduction Jeu de Paume, Paris, Capc Musée d’art contemporain de Bordeaux & Museo Amparo, Puebla. With the support of Creative Capital. © Ben Thorp Brown Photos by Arthur Péquin @arthurpequin

I’ve been wanting to find a way to make Cura’s Garden, my long-term installation in the courtyard of Kunsthal Gent, accessible to friends here in the U.S and those who have followed the project over time. Together with @kunsthalgent , @roma.publications , and @inventorypress , I’ve put together a book about Cura’s Garden with some wonderful contributors, and we have a book launch at MoMA PS1’s bookstore on May 17. Please join! I am also making a “special edition” print called “Autumn, Again,” taken in Cura’s Garden. In the image, a single flower decays, held in suspension, lingering in a state of transformation. Each print is produced at 10 × 8 inches and will be available signed and framed for $250, plus shipping. The book is available for an additional $40. If you would like to purchase a print and/or a book, please send your shipping address, your Venmo or Zelle name, and I will request payment when it’s ready to ship. Dm me for orders! Thank you!

A week ago we pre­sented the book ‘Cura’s Gar­den’, the result of a two-year con­ver­sa­ti­on bet­ween artist Ben Thorp Brown @benthorpbrown and Kunst­hal Gent pro­gram­mer Valen­tijn Goet­hals @valentijn_goethals . The publi­ca­ti­on explo­res the End­less Exhi­bi­ti­on of the same name loca­ted in the gar­den of Kunst­hal Gent and is publis­hed by @roma.publications , @inventorypress  and Kunst­hal Gent. During the launch jazz musi­cian Ber­lin­de Deman  pre­sented a uni­que con­cert amidst the mist of Cura’s Gar­den. She per­formed fea­tu­ring the ser­pent, a rare 16th-cen­tu­ry wind instru­ment and the mys­te­rious forerun­ner of the tuba.

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𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵: 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗽 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 — 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮’𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻
The book is available at our entrance desk during weekends or via @roma.publications and @inventorypress 📸 @martijndemeuleneire

✨Thank you Berlinde Deman @berlinde.d and @kunsthalgent for a very special moment to mark the launch of the Cura’s Garden publication last weekend. Making books is a very collaborative process, and it was wonderful to have you join us on the serpent at this moment. Published by @roma.publications and @inventorypress Edited by Annie Godfrey Larmon @annieg_dfrey and myself, contributions from Laura McLean-Ferris @lmcleanferris Laurie Cluitmans @lauriecluitmans Robert Wiesenberger @robert.wiesenberger Jan Minne @jan.minne Valentijn Goethals @valentijn_goethals photos from Michiel de Cleene @michieldecleene Bert Bodsaert @bert.bossaert Lukas Neven @lukas_neven Linocuts by Cary Thorp Brown @carythorpbrown and design by @valentijn_goethals @linneaari and proofing by @miradayal Thank you @bosdex @graphiusgroup for printing Distributed by @ideabooksnl @artbook

Last night we opened Pollen (Chapter 3), and I’m so thrilled to bring new work (and pollinate 😉) the exhibition and also to exhibit Cura 🐢 which was first commissioned by CAPC and @jeudepaumeparis @museoamparo in 2019. Grateful for the very supportive team @capcmusee and for @alicecavender @cedric.fauq who invited me and nurtured this very special show. Thank you to @sandrapatroncapc and the entire team at @capcmusee 💚

Palm Stack, 2026 Glazed ceramic, 4.6m New production for CAPC Bordeaux! @capcmusee Alongside Joan Mitchell La Grande Vallee XX, 1983 @joanmitchellfdn Pollen (chapter 3: Ben Thorp Brown) April 2 - September 27 Starting from the idea that an exhibition is like a garden that a museum tends, Ben Thorp Brown introduces new works that alter its landscape and ecosystem. In the exhibition, he introduces several “trees” of varying scales: stackable ceramic palm trees, gestural oak sculptures, and a weeping willow fog garden. The exhibition Pollen aims to make the collection's ecosystem tangible while showcasing a selection of works that examine nature and explore our often violent relationship with our environments. Pollen takes its title from a work in the Capc's collection by German artist Wolfgang Laib, Pollen de noisetier (1992). Composed solely of pollen collected by the artist himself, this piece served as the starting point for the exhibition's concept. Over two years of the exhibition, four artists are invited, one after the other, to present their works in dialogue with the Capc's collection. Alongside many great artists like Caroline Achaintre, Rosa Barba, Nina Beier, Hicham Berrada, Anna Boghighian, Chiara Camoni, Julien Creuzet, Jesse Darling, Olivia Erlanger, Louis L. Henderson, Lubaina Himid, Kapwani Kiwanga, Roy Köhnke, Wolfgang Laib, Joan Mitchell, Charly Mirambeau, Olivier Mosset, Oscar Murillo, Otobong Nkanga, Masahide Otani, Tony Oursler, Gina Pane, Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa, Emma Reyes, David Ryan, Samara Scott, Jean-Paul Thibeau, Wolfgang Tillmans, Sébastien Vonier Photo by Arthur Pequin

Weeping Willow (Fog Garden) April 2-September 27 Pollen (Chapter 3: Ben Thorp Brown) CAPC Bordeaux @capcmusee @cedric.fauq @alicecavender Approaching the museum’s collection as a garden—one that requires attention, care, and ongoing cultivation- my contribution adds new works in sculpture, photography, and video reconfiguring its narrative and its ecosystem.

Welcome this Saturday (16h) for the booklaunch of 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮’𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻, the result of a two-year conversation between artist 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗽 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻  @benthorpbrown  and our curator / programmer @valentijn_goethals . 
Jazz musician Berlinde Deman @berlinde.d  will present a unique concert amidst the mist of Cura’s Garden, performing on the serpent — a rare 16th-century wind instrument and forerunner of the tuba.

A roundtable discussion between @laurammherman , Ben Thorp Brown, Jan Minne and Valentijn Goethals traces the complete development of the work — from the early 2019 film Cura to the current challenges of the garden’s maintenance and natural evolution. The book is published by @roma.publications , @inventorypress  and Kunsthal Gent.
 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵: 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗽 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 — 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮’𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻
••• Saturday 28.03, 16:00 ••• Entrance: Pay What You Can
••• Info via link in bio

🔊 I am thrilled to share a preview of a very special performance to launch the Cura’s Garden book on Saturday March 28 at Kunsthal Gent at 4pm. Jazz musician Ber­lin­de Deman @berlinde.d will pre­sent a con­cert amidst the mist of Cura’s Gar­den. She will per­form ­with the ser­pent, a rare 16th-cen­tu­ry wind instru­ment and the mys­te­rious forerun­ner of the tuba. We are thrilled to share the publication and will have copies available for sale. @roma.publication @inventorypress @kunsthalgent

We are very glad to pre­sent 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮’𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻, the result of a two-year conversation between artist 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗽 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻  @benthorpbrown  and our curator / programmer @valentijn_goethals . The book is published by @roma.publications , @inventorypress  and Kunsthal Gent.

Join us on 28 March at 16:00 at @kunsthalgent  for the book launch. Jazz musician @berlinde.d  will present a unique concert amidst the mist of Cura’s Garden, performing on the serpent — a rare 16th-century wind instrument and forerunner of the tuba.

A roundtable discussion between @laurammherman , Ben Thorp Brown, Jan Minne, and @valentijn_goethals traces the complete development of the work — from the early 2019 film Cura to the current challenges of the garden’s maintenance and natural evolution. 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵: 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗽 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 — 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮’𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻
••• Saturday 28.03, 16:00 ••• Entrance: Pay What You Can
••• Info via link in bio

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Cura’s Garden is an immersive installation developed by Brown in collaboration with Belgian landscape designer @jan.minne . The garden functions as a vision of Arcadia that tests the boundaries of paradise, based on the Roman myth of Cura (Care). Trees, flora, mist, sculpture, and sound converge to create a layered sensory experience. The publication features photography by @michieldecleene , @bert.bossaert  and @lukas_neven . Linocuts by @carythorpbrown , and design by @valentijn_goethals  in collaboration with @linneaari .
 Thanks to @bosdex  / @graphiusgroup  / @vlaamseoverheid

I’m very proud to share Cura’s Garden, the result of a two-year conversation between @benthorpbrown and myself. Join us on 28 March at 16:00 at @kunsthalgent for the book launch. Published by @roma.publications , @inventorypress and Kunsthal Gent. To mark the occasion, jazz musician @berlinde.d will present a unique concert amidst the mist of Cura’s Garden, performing on the serpent — a rare 16th-century wind instrument and mysterious forerunner of the tuba. — Cura’s Garden is an immersive installation developed by Brown in close collaboration with Belgian landscape designer @jan.minne . The garden functions as a vision of Arcadia that tests the boundaries of paradise, based on the Roman myth of Cura (Care). Trees, flora, mist, sculpture, and sound converge to create a layered sensory experience. The publication features photography by @michieldecleene , @bert.bossaert and @lukas_neven . Linocuts by @carythorpbrown , and design by @valentijn_goethals in collaboration with @linneaari . Organized chronologically around the seasons, the work is contextualized through essays by @lmcleanferris , @lauriecluitmans , and @robert.wiesenberger . A roundtable discussion between @laurammherman , Ben Thorp Brown, Jan Minne, and myself traces the complete development of the work — from the early 2019 film Cura to the current challenges of the garden’s maintenance and natural evolution. Thank you @bosdex / @graphiusgroup / @vlaamseoverheid