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Elaine de Kooning Paintings

American, 1918-1989

Elaine de Kooning, the wife of Willem de Kooning, was a prolific and versatile painter, writer, and teacher.

Although she was a major figure in both the Abstract Expressionist and American Figurative Expressionist movements of the 1940s and 1950s, de Kooning eschewed developing a singular style and instead painted in a range of modes from realism to abstraction.

“Style is something I’ve always tried to avoid. I’m more interested in character,” de Kooning said. Her paintings feature loose, thick brushstrokes in bold hues executed in an energetic, improvisational mode. “A painting to me is primarily a verb, not a noun,” she famously declared, “an event first and only secondarily an image.”

Highly noted for her skill as a portraitist, de Kooning often painted friends and contemporary figures, notably including a commission to paint President John F. Kennedy.

Born on March 12, 1918 in Brooklyn, NY, she went on to study at Hunter College and the American Artists School. De Kooning quickly gained prominence in the burgeoning art scene, becoming a member of the infamous Eighth Street Club alongside Franz Kline, Clyfford Still and Hans Hofmann, solidifying her place within the canon of American Expressionism. She is regarded as being instrumental in developing contemporary American art, shaping young artists through several teaching positions held at influential institutions like the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University. De Kooning died on February 1, 1989 in Southampton, NY.

FInd Elaine de Kooning art today on 1stDIbs.

(Biography provided by Heather James Fine Art)

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Artist: Elaine de Kooning
Untitled: (Totem Pole) - Abstract Sculpture, c. 1960
Untitled: (Totem Pole) - Abstract Sculpture, c. 1960

Elaine de KooningUntitled: (Totem Pole) - Abstract Sculpture, c. 1960, c. 1960

$375,000

Untitled: (Totem Pole) - Abstract Sculpture, c. 1960

By Elaine de Kooning

Located in Palm Desert, CA

A major figure in both the Abstract Expressionist and American Figurative Expressionist movements of the 1940s and 1950s, Elaine de Kooning's prolific output defied singular categorization. Her versatile styles explored the spectrum of realism to abstraction, resulting in a career characterized by intense expression and artistic boundary-pushing. A striking example of de Kooning's explosive creativity is Untitled (Totem Pole...

Category

1960s Abstract Expressionist Elaine de Kooning Paintings

Materials

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John F. Kennedy #11
John F. Kennedy #11

Elaine de KooningJohn F. Kennedy #11, 1980

Price Upon Request

John F. Kennedy #11

By Elaine de Kooning

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Artist: Elaine de Kooning Title: John F. Kennedy #11 Year: 1980 Medium: Charcoal and wash on gessoed masonite, signed and dated lower right Size: 30 x 22 inches [76.2 x 55.88 cm] Fr...

Category

1980s Contemporary Elaine de Kooning Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Gesso, Charcoal

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Elaine De Kooning paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Elaine de Kooning paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Elaine de Kooning in oil paint, paint, canvas and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Elaine de Kooning paintings, so small editions measuring 27 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Herbert Kornfeld, Arthur Beecher Carles, and Jack Hooper. Elaine de Kooning paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $135,000 and tops out at $300,000, while the average work can sell for $217,500.

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Questions About Elaine de Kooning Paintings
  • How much is Interchange by Willem de Kooning worth?
    1 Answer
    1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2024
    Interchange by Willem de Kooning is likely worth at least $300 million. That's how much the painting sold for through a private sale in 2015. De Kooning produced the painting in 1955 and sold it for just $5,000. The piece is an abstract landscape that uses bold colors, characteristic of his work in the Abstract Expressionist style. On 1stDibs, find a range of Willem de Kooning art.