Francis Focer Brown

Francis Focer Brown (January 19, 1891 – April 14, 1971) was an American Impressionist painter, as well as professor and head of the Fine Arts Department at Ball State Teachers College (present-day Ball State University) in Muncie, Indiana from 1925 until his retirement as Professor Emeritus in 1957, and was director of the Ball State Art Gallery until 1946. He exhibited his work at the Hoosier Salon shows between 1922 and 1964, winning several awards for his oils, pastels, and watercolors between 1925 and 1945. He also won prizes for works he exhibited at the John Herron Art Institute and the Richmond Art Museum in 1922. In addition, he exhibited his work at the Herron School of Art Museum, Ball State University, Indiana Art Club shows, and the Indiana State Fair, as well as exhibitions at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1922 and 1923, and Cincinnati Museum of Art between 1922 and 1925.

Brown studied with Hoosier Group painter J. Ottis Adams while still a high school student before enrolling at the John Herron Art Institute, where he studied under Hoosier Group painter William Forsyth. Brown also studied at Ball State, and earned a master of arts degree from Ohio State University. Brown was a member Indiana Art Club and the Hoosier Salon. His work is held in collections at John Herron Art Institute (present-day Indianapolis Museum of Art), Ball State University, the Richmond (Indiana) Art Museum, and in various schools and libraries throughout Indiana.