The name of painter, printmaker and writer Robert Motherwell (1915–91) is often taken as synonymous with the New York School, whose name he coined. Motherwell was the youngest of this group of Abstract Expressionists working in art, dance, poetry and music in 1950s and '60s New York City, which included Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Philip Guston, Helen Frankenthaler and Mark Rothko.
Born in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1915, Motherwell had perhaps the broadest and best education of any of the New York School coterie, with an extensive background in philosophy, literature and art history. He earned a BA in philosophy in 1937 from Stanford University and was working toward a PhD in the subject at Harvard when he interrupted his studies for a yearlong trip to Europe, where he fell in love with European modernism.
After returning, in 1940 he enrolled Columbia to study art history. It was there that he met a group of exiled Parisian Surrealists, and encounter that proved influential on his style. Motherwell began to integrate the idea of “automatism” — unmediated gestures that reflect deeper psychological impulses — into his work, pioneering a new form of Abstract Expressionism that came to characterize the New York School.
Works like the 1967 Beside the Sea no. 45, an acrylic on canvas, and the 1966 lithograph New York International epitomize Motherwell’s use of simple shapes in boldly contrasting colors, executed in quick, gestural strokes that occasionally evoke figures, suggesting a latent narrative despite their obvious abstraction.
Throughout his career, Motherwell taught painting at Hunter College, in New York, and at Black Mountain College, in North Carolina, where his work influenced the likes of Cy Twombly, Robert Rauschenberg and Kenneth Noland. His influence as one of the founding fathers of American Abstract Expressionism remains profound.
The Basque Suite #5
By Robert Motherwell
Located in New York, NY
Color screenprint on J. B. Green paper, 1970-71. Initialed by the artist and numbered 123/150 in pencil, lower right. Printed by Kelpra Studio, London. Published by Marlborough Gra...
Screen, Color
Untitled #1
By Robert Motherwell
Located in New York, NY
Color screenprint on JB Green paper, 1971. Signed by the artist in pencil and numbered 81/150 in pencil, lower right. With the artists blind stamp in the lower margin. Printed by K...
Screen
Harvest, with Two White Stripes, 1960-1980
By Robert Motherwell
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Robert Motherwell – Harvest, with Two White Stripes 1960–1980 Medium: Lithograph on Paper Edition: 55/55 Artwork Size: 30 x 11.75 in Framed Size: 40.75 x 22.5 in Price: $14,500 Robe...
Paper
Primal Sign I, 1979-80
By Robert Motherwell
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Robert Motherwell – Primal Sign I 1979–1980 Medium: Color Aquatint & Lift-Ground Etching on Cream Whatman Paper Edition: 38/60 Artwork Size: 23.5 x 18 in Framed Size: 34.75 x 28.25 i...
Paint
The Basque Suite #4
By Robert Motherwell
Located in New York, NY
Color screenprinton J. B. Green paper, 1970-71. Initialed by the artist and numbered 85/150 in pencil, lower right. Printed by Kelpra Studio, London. Published by Marlborough Graph...
Screen, Color
$4,000
H 60 in W 30 in D 1.75 in
Drinks With Degas, 60"x30" Still Life Painting, Dress, Lace, Black White Grey
By Andrea Stajan-Ferkul
Located in Mississauga, Ontario
DRINKS WITH DEGAS - This dress painting features an interplay of paint, lace collage and ribbon creating an outcome both expressive and refined. Through the process of adding and sub...
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Fabric, Canvas
$1,650Sale Price|25% Off
H 31.5 in W 39.38 in
Blue woman, 80x100cm, acrylic, oil, canvas
By Tatiana Levchenko
Located in Yerevan, AM
Blue woman, 2022, 80x100 cm
Canvas, Oil
Watchmen
By Tony Dagradi
Located in New Orleans, LA
[New Orleans, LA ::: b. 1952 - Queens, NY] BIO : TONY DAGRADI is an internationally recognized jazz performer, artist, composer, author and educator. For over three decades he has...
Paper, Varnish
$4,000
H 40 in W 60 in
Mystic Arboretum - Large Contemporary Abstract Geometric Botanical Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Harrison Gilman's large original artworks begin with a layer of fast-paced gestural abstraction followed by organic shapes and geometric structures. Some of his paintings remain in t...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,065
H 31 in W 23 in
avp_1143 - Original Blue Cool Tone Contemporary Abstract Painting on Paper
By Alex Voinea
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The colorful abstract artworks of Romanian artist Alex Voinea are inspired by experiments with paint poured over vibrating surfaces, such as speakers at full volume. Alex Voinea coll...
Paper, Acrylic
$1,400
H 40.25 in W 55.25 in
Giuseppe Capogrossi Iconic Comb Design "Superficie 324" Serigrafia
By Giuseppe Capogrossi
Located in Detroit, MI
"Superficie 324" is a 1988 screen print (serigraph) of a 1959 painting by Capogrossi. This is one of his famous "comb" or "fork" works that he perfected in the 1950s and continued to create for the remainder of his life. The blocks of primary red and yellow colors give a bright, joyful feel and contrast to the strong bold black that was Capogrossi's consistent color for the "combs". With no allegorical, psychological, or symbolic meanings, these structural elements could be assembled and connected in countless variations. Intricate and insistent, Capogrossi's signs determined the construction of the pictorial surface. This piece is identified along one side: Giuseppe Capogrossi By SIAE 1988 Silvio Zamorani Editor Via Saccarelli, 9 10144 Torino Italy Tel. (39)(11) 4730554 Progetto Grafico (Graphic Project): Studio Walter Benjamin. Serigrafia (Screen Print): BISI Torino. Capogrossi was born in Rome. After obtaining a degree in law in 1923–1924, he decided to study painting with Felice Carena at Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma. In 1927 Capogrossi embarked on a formative trip to Paris together with fellow artists and acquaintances Fausto Pirandello, Corrado Cagli and Emanuele Cavalli...
Screen
Fanfare
By George Dannatt
Located in Bournemouth, Dorset
George Dannatt (1915-2009) Fanfare, 1983 Screenprint Image measures: 27.5 x 23.0 cm Paper size: 62.0 x 49.5 cm Editions available Mint condition: 22/120, 27/120, 94/120, 95/120, 10...
Screen
$10,797
H 37.8 in W 33.47 in D 2.37 in
Dutch Old Master Portrait of Maurits, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Oil on Panel
Located in London, GB
In 1607, the Delft city council decided to commission a portrait of Stadholder Maurits of Nassau for the town hall, with Michiel van Mierevelt as the chosen artist due to the passing...
Oil, Wood Panel
Untitled #1
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork "untitled #1" 1978 is an original color serigraph on Wove paper by Canadian/American artist Howard Bradford, 1919-2008. It is hand signed,...
Screen
$12,000
H 79.38 in W 34 in
Yankee Doodle /// Gene Davis Abstract Geometric Huge Screenprint Colorful Modern
By Gene Davis
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Gene Davis (American, 1920-1985) Title: "Yankee Doodle" *Signed and numbered by Davis in pencil lower right Year: 1972 Medium: Original Screenprint on wove paper, laid down t...
Canvas, Screen
Jean-Michel Basquiat Spray Paint Can 2017
By Jean-Michel Basquiat
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Limited edition Jean-Michel Basquiat Spray Paint Can 2017: Highly collectible limited edition Jean-Michel Basquiat spray paint can by published ci...
Metal
Man 1, 120x55cm, oil on canvas
By Tatiana Levchenko
Located in Yerevan, AM
Man 1, 2021, 120x55 cm
Canvas, Oil
Untitled- From Ten Works X Ten Painters
By Robert Motherwell
Located in New York, NY
This stunning screen print with collage was realized by the esteemed Abstract Expressionist artist Robert Motherwell in 1964. It features an anthropomorphic form- reminiscent of a st...
Africa
By Robert Motherwell
Located in Toronto, Ontario
ROBERT MOTHERWELL "AFRICA" TAPESTRY, 1970 $6,000 Robert Motherwell (1915-1991), alongside Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning, made up the quartet of American a...
Wool