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.
"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
$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) Amaranth Ehrenhalt (1928–2021) was part of the Abstract Expressionist...
Canvas, Oil
$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
"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
"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
"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
$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
$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
Sold|$200
H 24 in W 19 in
Abstract Blue Mountains Gouache Painting on Paper, Circa 1960s
Located in Arp, TX
Thelma Corbin Moody Blue Mountains c. 1960's Gouache on Arches Paper 19 1/4" x 24 3/4", Unframed Unsigned Lovely, mid century gouache painting, b...
Paper, Gouache
$400
H 12 in W 10 in D 1 in
High Slope, Abstract Expressionist Painting, Oil on Canvas, 2010+
By Evy Olsen Halvorsen
Located in Kingston, WA
I blended abstract and realistic elements to capture the raw energy of a mountain’s slope, a natural expression of memory. I was born surrounded by mountains, steep imposing rocks o...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
$20,000
H 38 in W 49 in D 1.5 in
Deep as the Night, an oil painting by John Von Wicht
By John von Wicht
Located in Hudson, NY
This work is one of a group of over 100 works personally selected by the artist, and gifted to a close personal friend in 1969. Exhibited: 1967 National Academy Annual Exhibition -...
Canvas, Oil
Untitled Abstract Oil by Naohiko Inukai
By Naohiko Inukai 1
Located in Hudson, NY
A richly colored abstraction by Japanese artist Naohiko Inukai. This early work demonstrates the artist's fluidity and expression with paint prior to wh...
Canvas, Oil
$890
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
Blue Grey
By Philippe Hosiasson
Located in Austin, TX
Waterline Fine Art, Austin, TX is pleased to present the following work: Oil on canvas. Signed and dated lower right and verso, titled verso. 39.25 x 31.75 in. 40.25 x 32.75 in. (f...
Canvas, Oil
$1,144
H 23.63 in W 23.63 in D 1.58 in
Quiet Sky-original oil abstract landscape oil painting-contemporary artwork
By Alison Johnson
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Canvas, Oil
Green Burst
Located in Austin, TX
Waterline Fine Art, Austin, TX is pleased to present the following work: Kyle Morris Green Burst, 1958 Oil on canvas. Signed and dated lower right; signed, titled, dated verso. 48...
Canvas, Oil
$20,500
H 24 in W 30 in
Subjective Farm Landscape abstract oil painting by Ralph Rosenborg
By Ralph Rosenborg
Located in Hudson, NY
Subjective Farm Landscape 1940 Oil on canvas, 24" x 30" 37.5" x 31" x 2" framed - frame is original to this artwork Signed recto lower right: "rosenborg 40" & arrow box cypher. Signe...
Canvas, Oil
$3,600
H 35 in W 31 in
Large Modernist French Abstract Expressionist Colorful Bird Painting Roger Lersy
By Roger Lersy
Located in Surfside, FL
Roger Lersy, French (1920 - 2004) Oil on canvas Signed, R. Lersy, dated 1961 lower right Measuring 35 X 31 Matted and framed. sight 26 X 21.5 Roger Lersy was born in Paris, France ...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$7,000
H 51 in W 83 in
"Calypso II" Abstract Painting 51" x 83" inch by Carole Baines
By Carole Baines
Located in Culver City, CA
"Calypso II" Abstract Painting 51" x 83" inch by Carole Baines Carole Baines is a self-taught, London-born artist based between Townsville and Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Carol...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,150
H 18 in W 14 in D 0.13 in
Lady with a Hat Abstract Expressionist Heavy Impasto Figurative Original Oil
Located in Soquel, CA
Lady with a Hat Abstract Expressionist Heavy Impasto Figurative Original Oil Abstract Expressionist painting of a close-up, expressive portrait of a woman by an unknow artist, rende...
Canvas, Oil, Illustration Board