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 #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
$11,600Sale Price|20% Off
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
$5,400Sale Price|20% Off
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 #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
$600
H 16 in W 13 in
Arizona Centennial First Day Issue Stamps and Envelope, autographed by Ed Mell
By Ed Mell
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Ed Mell 1942-2024 Original signatures on stamps and envelope. Custom presentation frame. Arizona Centennial Commemorative Stamp, Arizona First Day of Issue by Ed Mell, 1942-2024. C...
Postcard
$7,000
H 26.5 in W 19.5 in
"Untitled" Richard Serra, Black and White, Sculptural, Simple Abstracted Form
By Richard Serra
Located in New York, NY
Richard Serra Untitled, 1990 Signed and dated lower left, stamped Gemini G.E.L. on the reverse Screen-print on PTI Supra paper 26 1/2 x 19 1/2 inches 430/500 Known for large-scale ...
Paper, Screen
$1,030
H 20.48 in W 28.35 in
Contemporary Abstract Multi Media And Rustic Metal Artwork By Anette Holmberg
Located in Frederiksberg C, DK
Having a piece of metal wall art can be the rustic factor that sets your interior apart. In this artwork, the raw look is abrupted by a stripe of canvas, a detail that bridges and c...
Iron
$66,469
H 29.14 in W 23.04 in D 0.04 in
Untitled - Expression no. 2 - Screen Print After Jackson Pollock - 1964
By Jackson Pollock
Located in Roma, IT
JACKSON POLLOCK (American, 1912-1956) Untitled, CR1093 (after painting Number 9, CR340), 1951–printed 1964 Screenprint, on Strathmore wove paper, numbered in pencil lower left, and with the Estate of Jackson Pollock 1964 blindstamp lower left(?) From the second posthumous printing of 50 authorized by his widow, Lee Krasner in 1964 (there was also a lifetime edition of 25) Published by Bernard Steffen...
Screen
$1,250
H 52.5 in W 37.5 in
Solar Imp 2001, Lincoln Center New York City Ballet Honorary Silkscreen Poster
By (after) Helen Frankenthaler
Located in New York, NY
Medium: Silkscreen on extra-thick Somerset paper Poster Size: 45 in. High x 30 in. Wide (114.3 cm x 76.2 cm) Framed Size: 52.5"H x 37.5" W Signed: Facsimile Signature Framing Options...
Screen
$2,800
H 27.25 in W 27.25 in D 2 in
Richard Paul Lohse - Geometric Abstraction Silkscreen on velin Signed/N, Framed
Located in New York, NY
RICHARD PAUL LOHSE Penetration of Four Interlaced Colour Groups (Durchdringung von vier verschränkten Farbgruppen), 1970 Color Silkscreen on velincarton (thin board) Edition 32/50 P...
Screen
Untitled
By David Michael Slonim
Located in Indianapolis, IN
David Michael Slonim Untitled (2017) Oil on linen Size: 30 × 24 in (76.2 × 61 cm) Hand-signed by artist === Born in Miami in the mid-1960s, David Michael Slonim received his bache...
Linen, Oil
Magic Rainbow II, Limited Edition Signed Print
By Yaacov Agam
Located in San Rafael, CA
Yaacov Agam (b. 1928) Magic Rainbow II, late 20th century Screenprint in colors on wove paper LXIII/XC (edition 63/90) Signed and numbered in pencil along lower edge 13 x 15...
Screen
untitled
By Stephen Procuniar
Located in New York, NY
Gestural screenprint, number 12 from an edition of 20
Screen
$5,800
H 51 in W 44.5 in D 2 in
Robert Rauschenberg "Broken Harp" Pencil Signed Lithograph 24/500 executed 1989
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in Dallas, TX
Signed and numbered lithograph on woven paper designed by Robert Rauschenberg titled "Broken Harp". An early edition, number 24 of only 500 prints ever made. Executed on woven paper ...
Paper
$900
H 23.5 in W 31 in
Intimate Lighting, Pastel Abstract Screenprint by Robert Natkin
By Robert Natkin
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Robert Natkin, American (1930 - 2010) Title: Intimate Lighting II Year: 1972 Medium: Screenprint on Cream Arches Paper, signed, dated and numbered in pencil Edition: 36/150 S...
Screen
Red Rock
By Howard Bradford
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Red rock" 1994 is an original color serigraph on Wove paper by Canadian/American artist Howard Bradford, 1919-2008. It is hand si...
Screen
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