Abstract Expressionism: The New York School

As the first truly modern art movement in the United States, abstract expressionism dominated the New York art scene of the 1940s and 50s. Emerging as a reaction to World War II, this "New York School" of artists shifted the global art focus by breaking away from traditional conventions in favor of monumentally scaled works that explored the individual psyche. By valuing spontaneity and the physical process of creation, these artists fundamentally redefined the relationship between the painter and the canvas. This course examines this movement through its two primary stylistic inclinations. We begin with gestural abstract expressionism, focusing on the dynamic and energetic "action painting" of Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner, and Willem de Kooning. We then transition to the reflective, cerebral focus of the color field style, analyzing how artists such as Mark Rothko and Clyfford Still used expansive planes of color to evoke deep emotional and spiritual responses. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.