When multidisciplinary Abstract Expressionist artist Amaranth Ehrenhalt first moved from Philadelphia to New York City in the 1950s she unintentionally lived out the “starving artist” lifestyle. She made her paintings on the floor, but not in order to replicate the technique attributed to American painter Jackson Pollock. Owing to her modest financial situation, she simply didn't own a table.
Ehrenhalt graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1951 and attended a weekly course at the Barnes Foundation. There, she basked in the owner's large Parisian art collection and became deeply enamored with French artwork. It should come as no surprise that when a friend offered to trade a round trip to Paris for a portrait, Ehrenhalt jumped at the opportunity. Dutch-American painter Willem de Kooning — a fellow New Yorker at the time — invited her to have dinner upon her return, but after experiencing the Parisian art scene, she canceled her return trip and the two never shared that dinner. Ehrenhalt forged connections with Joan Mitchell, Alberto Giacometti and Yves Klein in the French capital, and remained in the country for over 40 years.
In her later years, Ehrenhalt returned to New York. She often traveled with her son, enraging the security guards at many of the world’s finest museums. From the Louvre in Paris to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, her son, Caradoc remembers guards running and shouting at the sight of Ehrenhalt leaning a nose-length away from the art, her pointer finger hovering closer to the work explaining techniques and details behind the piece. Many of these trips were not just proof of how well-educated and experienced she was, but also lessons in friendship as she knew many of the artists personally.
Ehrenhalt’s work appeared in group exhibitions and solo exhibitions in Paris, California, Italy and New York. Five of her paintings from the mid-20th century were featured in “Encore: Five Abstract Expressionists,” which opened at Baruch College’s Sidney Mishkin Gallery in 2006.
Find original Amaranth Ehrenhalt paintings, prints and other art on 1stDibs.
"Arat" Amaranth Ehrenhalt, Unique Painting, Woman Abstract Expressionism, 1974
By Amaranth Ehrenhalt
Located in New York, NY
Amaranth Ehrenhalt (1928–2021) Arat, 1974 Gouache and watercolor on thick paper Painting: 38 x 28 cm l 15 x 11 in. Frame: 52 x 42 cm l 20 1/2 x 16 1/2 in. Signed, titled and dated ...
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
$70,000
"Untitled" Amaranth Ehrenhalt, Woman Abstract Expressionist, Oil on canvas, 1966
By Amaranth Ehrenhalt
Located in New York, NY
Amaranth Ehrenhalt (1928–2021) Untitled, 1966 Acrylic on canvas Without frame: 38 x 51 3/4 in. (96.5 x 131.4 cm) Signed and dated Exhibition history: Galerie Zunini, Paris, March...
Canvas, Oil
$18,000
"Quintazi" Amaranth Ehrenhalt, Oil on canvas, Women Abstract Expressionist, 1986
By Amaranth Ehrenhalt
Located in New York, NY
Amaranth Ehrenhalt (1928–2021) Quintazi, 1986 Oil on canvas Without frame: 21 5/8 x 18 1/8 in. (55 x 46 cm) Signed lower right Amaranth Ehrenhalt (1928–2021) was part of the Abs...
Canvas, Oil
"Keep on whatever may happen" Amaranth Ehrenhalt, Woman Abstract Expressionism
By Amaranth Ehrenhalt
Located in New York, NY
Amaranth Ehrenhalt (1928–2021) Keep on whatever may happen, 1992 Oil on canvas Without frame: 47 1/4 x 47 1/4 in. (120 x 120 cm) Signed lower left Amaranth Ehrenhalt (1928–2021) ...
Canvas, Oil
"Appi" Amaranth Ehrenhalt, Unique Painting, Woman Abstract Expressionism, 2003
By Amaranth Ehrenhalt
Located in New York, NY
Amaranth Ehrenhalt (1928–2021) Appi 13, 2003 Gouache and watercolor on thick paper Painting: 20 x 20 cm l 8 x 8 in. Frame: 33 x 33 cm l 13 x 13 in. Signed, titled and dated Amarant...
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
$4,000
"Punk" Amaranth Ehrenhalt, Unique Watercolor, Abstract Expressionism, 1992
By Amaranth Ehrenhalt
Located in New York, NY
Amaranth Ehrenhalt (1928–2021) Punk, 1992 Watercolor and felt pen on thick paper 28 x 25.5 cm l 11 x 10 in. 41 x 39 cm l 16 1/8 x 15 1/3 in. (Frame included) Signed, titled and dated...
Paper, Watercolor
$4,000
"Pink" Amaranth Ehrenhalt, Unique Watercolor, Abstract Expressionism, 1992
By Amaranth Ehrenhalt
Located in New York, NY
Amaranth Ehrenhalt (1928–2021) Pink, 1992 Watercolor and felt pen on thick paper 25.5 x 28 cm l 10 x 11 in. 39 x 41 cm l 15 1/3 x 16 1/8 in. (Frame included) Signed, titled and dated...
Paper, Watercolor
$595Sale Price|20% Off
H 15 in W 21.5 in
1950's Abstract Cityscape French Modernist Architectural Gouache Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract French Modernist Cubist Architectural Gouache Painting Laure Noetzlin-Azam (French, 1929–2024) Pupil of André Lhote. Medium: gouache on artist paper, unframed. Artist paper:...
Gouache
$3,236
H 31.5 in W 23.63 in D 2.37 in
Untitled 01 - Contemporary, Organic, Black, Minimalist, Abstract, Monochrome
By Zsolt Berszán
Located in Baden-Baden, DE
Untitled 01, 2017 Black adhesive and black oil on canvas (Signed on reverse) 31 1/2 H x 23 5/8 H in. 80 H x 60 W cm Zsolt Berszán treats the first layer of the drawing as a substrat...
Canvas, Adhesive, Oil
$196
H 9.85 in W 9.85 in D 0.04 in
Summer Mists, Contemporary Expressionist Style Seascape Painting, Coastal Art
Located in Deddington, GB
This painting reflects the summer sun over Skye on the break of day as the mist lies low in the valleys and the promise of a beautiful day. Using vibrant turquoises to convey the fee...
Paper, Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor
$450
H 30 in W 22.5 in
Abstract Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Sculpture', C. 1995 by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...
Paper, Watercolor
$500
H 40.5 in W 26 in
Contemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Panel', C. 1994 by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...
Paper, Watercolor
Autumn in the garden V
By Andrei Sitsko
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this artwork, I embraced abstraction to depict the vibrant, transformative energy of autumn. Using oil paints, I splashed hues of red, gold, and orange, each stroke symbo...
Canvas, Oil
$712Sale Price|20% Off
H 19.75 in W 14 in D 0.13 in
Mid Century Bay Area Abstract Expressionist -- Oak Woodlands of Golden Gate Park
By Honora Berg
Located in Soquel, CA
Bay Area Abstract Expressionist -- Oak Woodlands of San Francisco Golden Gate Park This mid-century painting by Honora Berg (American, 1897-1985) depicts coastal live oaks of Golden...
Archival Paper, Oil Crayon, Watercolor
$3,500
H 43.31 in W 63 in
Sea Shore. 2018. Authortechnique on canvas. 110x180 cm. Signed
Located in Riga, LV
MAREKS GURECKIS (1974) CREATIVE WORK: 2025 Creation of a fire sculpture as part of the “Night of Fire” festival in Saulkrasti 2025 Visual design of the stage of the “Saulkrasti Jaz...
Metal
$450
H 30 in W 19.75 in
Contemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Sculpture', 2005 by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor
Notice-ing (Abstract painting)
By Xanda McCagg
Located in London, GB
Notice-ing (Abstract painting) Oil and graphite on canvas. Unframed. This work is rooted in the human figure, but is abstracted. The forms could be construed as figures in space –s...
Canvas, Oil, Graphite
$1,386
H 27.56 in W 19.69 in D 0.04 in
Abstract Composition - Oil On Canvas by Giorgio Lo Fermo - 2020s
By Giorgio Lo Fermo
Located in Roma, IT
Abstract Composition is an original artwork realized by Giorgio Lo Fermo (b. 1947) in 2021. Original Oil Painting on Canvas. Hand-signed, titled and dated on the back of the canvas...
Canvas, Oil
$2,200
H 31 in W 22 in
Abstract Expressionist Landscape Jay Milder Rhino Horn Painting American Pop Art
By Jay Milder
Located in Surfside, FL
This came from the collection of the Horace Richter Gallery, Old jaffa, Israel These were done in the 1990's Hand signed and dated. titled Old Jaffa. Jay Milder (born 1934) is an Am...
Paper, Gouache
Sold
H 11.03 in W 14.97 in
"Bryan" Amaranth Ehrenhalt, Unique Painting, Woman Abstract Expressionism, 1958
By Amaranth Ehrenhalt
Located in New York, NY
Amaranth Ehrenhalt (1928–2021) Bryan, 1958 Gouache on thick paper Painting: 38 x 28 cm l 15 x 11 in. Frame: 52 x 42 cm l 20 1/2 x 16 1/2 in. Signed, titled and dated Amaranth Ehren...
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache