The signing will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at the gallery at 357 N. La Brea Ave.

"Gradiva's Mirror is a work of creative nonfiction that weaves autobiographical reflections into historical analyses of paintings, sculptures, photographs and texts created by 11 women associated with Surrealism," Brown said.

The women included in the book are Claude (cq) Cahun, Leonora Carrington, Gala Dali, Frida Kahlo, Valentine Hugo, Maria Izquierdo, Jacqueline Lamba, Simone Mareuil, Lee Miller, Alice Rahon and Remedios Varo.

Brown said the title of her book comes from two central Surrealist icons.

"Gradiva, the mythic figure created by German novelist Wilhelm Jensen, analyzed by Sigmund Freud and adopted by André Breton as a pivotal symbol," she said. "And the mirror, employed by the Surrealists as an emblem of reflection and receptivity rather than a reference to human vanity."

Brown said Jack Rutberg Fine Arts Gallery has a reputation for exhibiting and supporting all types of art forms, including music and poetry readings as well as exhibitions.

"It's the perfect place to celebrate a book about great artists," she said.

For more information about the book signing, call the gallery at (323) 938-5222.

Brown has taught at CSUN more than 20 years. She is an art historian, critic and curator. She is trained in art history, having received her bachelor's degree in art history and painting from Southern Methodist University, her master's in art history from the University of Texas at Austin and doctorate in art history from the University of New Mexico.

California State University, Northridge has more than 31,000 full- and part-time students and offers 63 bachelor's and 51 master's degrees. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley and the third largest in the 23-campus CSU system. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges recently said CSUN "stands as a model to other public urban institutions of higher education."