James Paul Brown
James Paul Brown, artist and entrepreneur, passed away on April 17, 2025, with his beloved wife Juliet Rohde-Brown, and in-laws, by his side. He was 87 years old.
James was born March 26, 1938, in Gary, IN, and grew up in nearby Crown Point, surrounded by his family of bankers, doctors and lawyers, and encouraged by his mother, Jean, to make art. James graduated from the Culver Military Academy and Rollins College, but rejected a law career in favor of pursuing dual careers in art and radio.
James began producing and syndicated radio shows in the 1970s. His award-winning programs spanned the gamut from news and sports to ecology, classical music and pop music countdowns. He started Earth News Magazine, and produced Hitline USA and the Small Business Report.
James moved from Chicago to the West Coast in the early 1970s. He was a part of the Venice art scene, and his friends and colleagues included his then brother-in-law, William Wegman, Billy Al Bengston, Laddie John Dill and Chuck Arnoldi. James was an artist for the 1984 USA Olympics swim team, the America’s Cup, the Monaco Grand Prix, the LA Ballet and the musical La Cage Aux Folles. He painted portraits of notables including David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Nelson Mandela, and three US presidents. His collectors include Cheech Marin, Kris Kristofferson, Alex Trebek, Barbara Sinatra, and Lee Iacocca, as well as local philanthropists Sara Miller McCune and Anne and Michael Towbes.
James met Juliet Rohde in Los Angeles in 1984. They married in 1990 and relocated to Santa Barbara in 1996, where James owned an art gallery in Ojai and maintained studios in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria. He showed locally at Sullivan-Goss and Corridan galleries and was the official artist for Archie McClaren’s Central Coast Wine Classic. James’ label artwork for Sunstone and Artiste winery is instantly recognizable, and his work graces the walls of Bouchon and Petit Valentien restaurants, and Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles.
His paintings are currently on display at Artiste’s Santa Ynez Gallery and Tasting Room, at Corridan Gallery in Santa Barbara, and at Bill Hester Fine Art in Santa Fe.
James is survived by his wife, Dr. Juliet Rohde-Brown; daughter Sarah Dorman of Minturn, CO; brothers Peter, Tony (Kathy) and Bill; his former wife, Sally Koppein; nieces and nephews including Coco Rohde, Kellan Rohde and Brandt Rohde; and loving in-laws.
James travelled the world but called Santa Barbara home. He was a lover of beauty, fine wine, great art, nature, poetry, beach walks, and life itself, and his art reflected his joy. For those who knew him, keep beloved James in your heart. Memorial services are pending.
