The Brown Collection
Free art museum in Marylebone, set up by the artist Glenn Brown, showing his own work with Old Masters and modern art across several floors.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Brown Collection is a museum in a converted mews warehouse at 1 Bentinck Mews in Marylebone, central London. It was founded by the British artist Glenn Brown, who wanted a permanent London home where his own paintings and sculptures could be shown next to works by other artists, so that they could speak to one another.
The building dates from 1905 and stands on the site of two earlier eighteenth-century mews. Renovation began in 2016 and took about six years, and the team stripped the structure back to its outer walls. The museum opened to the public in October 2022. Inside, the galleries are spread over several floors: a vaulted basement with a sculpture space and a research archive, a ground floor with dark green walls, a bright pink first floor and a deep grey-blue second floor.
The collection reaches from the fifteenth century to the present day. It holds Brown’s own work and a large number of pieces by other artists, many of them Old Masters, together with twentieth- and twenty-first-century artists. Named artists include Abraham Bloemaert, Henri Fantin-Latour, Grace Pailthorpe, Hans Hartung, Austin Osman Spare, Gaetano Gandolfi and Gillian Wearing.
The displays change through themed exhibitions curated by Brown and colleagues, and the museum also runs lectures, life drawing sessions and film screenings. Entry is free.
Highlights
- Free museum devoted to the collection and archive of the artist Glenn Brown
- Collection spanning the fifteenth century to today, with Old Masters beside contemporary art
- Themed displays across the floors of a restored 1905 mews warehouse
- Regular lectures, tutored life drawing sessions and film screenings
- Research archive and a vaulted basement with a sculpture space
- Founded
- 2022
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entry to the collection is free. Group tours are also free but must be booked in advance.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Galleries 1, 3 and 4, the archive and the toilet are fully accessible. Gallery 2 in the basement cannot be reached by wheelchair because of the Victorian layout of the building. A ramp to the entrance is available on request, and assistance animals are welcome. Visitors with specific access needs can email the museum in advance.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum is in Marylebone; the website points visitors to the Wallace Collection’s getting-here page for directions.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Seating and rest areas are provided throughout the galleries. An online shop is linked from the website.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Free guided tours can be arranged for groups such as schools, universities, art societies, patrons’ groups and corporate or community organisations; tours are tailored to the group and must be booked in advance by email. Monthly life drawing sessions in the galleries are booked through Eventbrite. |
