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John Brough Miller

Illusional Circular Motion   2000 144 x 156 x 60 inches

Whimsical Homestead 1996 (detail) 78 inches high photographs by J R Compton

Two John Brough Miller works from DallasArtsRevue

Sculptor John Brough Miller of Argyle died Sunday September 19, 2010 at the Medical Center of Plano. His friend and ours, Art Shirer said, "John was a great guy, and I valued our friendship. He was a person I've admired and looked up to since the day we first met long ago in Argyle, Texas. He was one of those rare heroic sculptors who did all his own work, leaving monumental steel sculptures in his wake all across the United States. John made BIG stuff, and I'm really going to miss him." Miller was 77.

"The inferred kinetic energy is in the mind of the viewer."

– J. Brough Miller      

A memorial for Miller will be at the Denton Center for Visual Arts from 2-4 pm Saturday October 2. Instead of flowers, memorials may be made in the name of John Brough Miller to either the Greater Denton Arts Council, 400 East Hickory Street, Denton TX 76201 or The Irving Arts Center, 3333 North MacArthur Boulevard, Irving, TX 75062

Tyler Museum of Art photo of John Brough Miller in his studio 

According to a slightly edited obituary written by Brough's wife and daughters:

John was born on April 4, 1933 in Emerson Township, Michigan to Henry A. and Mildred Marie Miller. He attended Ithaca, Alma, and Baraga Michigan public schools before enlisting in the Navy, where he served from in the Experimental Forces on the USS Timmerman. He got his Bachelor of Science in Education in 1960 from Central Michigan University and was seeking a degree in Economics, when he had to take an Art class to graduate and discovered his true passion.

He received his Masters of Fine Arts in 1964 from the Cranbrook Academy of Art, where he studied with renowned artist Maija Grotell. He also earned his certification in industrial welding from the Industrial Welding Trade School in Dallas Texas (1968).

Miller moved to Texas in 1964 and spent nearly 30 years as a Professor of Ceramics and Sculpture at Texas Woman’s University (1964-1992), where he was Chairman of Visual Arts, and a member of the Graduate School Faculty. He was named Professor Emeritus in 1992. From 1968-1969, he was also on faculty at the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts School.

Miller’s teaching and powerful pots reflect the inspirations of Maija Grotell and carries on through his students who are now teachers, designers and artists. In 1998 he was honored for his contribution to ceramic education and guidance toward excellence with the exhibit ‘Wads of Clay Formed in Texas’ celebrating Retrofest 1940-1950 in Fort Worth, Texas.

J. Brough Miller’s 9 to 30 foot sculptures were to him “existence in space” and “displacements.” He took great pride and joy giving steel of little monetary value personality and worth. These monumental sculptures were created just outside the garage at his home in Argyle.

Among his awards, commissions and dedications are installments for: Visual Arts Center in Denton Texas, Denton Fire Department Station 1, Texas Woman’s University, The Studios of Las Colinas, Hall Office Park in Frisco Texas, Valley House Gallery in Dallas, Dallas Public Library, Richland Collage in Richardson Texas, Northlake College, Aztec Products Inc. in Mansfield Texas, Peyco Products, Inc. in Arlington Texas, Abilene Fine Arts Museum, Amarillo Art Center, Miami Financial District, Kilroy Airport Center in Long Beach and Los Angeles International Airport, Florida State University, University of Missouri, Ithaca, Michigan at the Gratiot County Courthouse and at his home in Argyle Texas.