Twentieth Century Art: The Growth of Abstraction 1950-Present

The Growth of Abstraction, 1950-Present, is the second half of the course that introduced the exciting and controversial twentieth century world of art, which moved away from representational to abstract paintings. We will study a culturally diverse group of artists from different geographical regions, starting with the New York School of Abstract Expressionism, including the “Ninth Street Women;” followed by the Northwest School; San Francisco School of Abstract Expressionists; Taos and Santa Fe Moderns, Artists of Black Mountain College; and Women Artists of Monhegan Island. To better describe, understand and analyze the art, we will discuss the terminology and language of abstraction, plus apply those skills weekly to identify a mystery painting. Artists include Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell, Lee Krasner, Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline, Mark Tobey, Kenneth Callahan, Mark Rothko, Romare Bearden, Norman Lewis, Alma Thomas, Richard Diebenkorn, Sonia Gechtoff, Hassell Smith, Masako Takahashi, Georgia O’Keeffe, Helen Hardin, Poteet Victory, Preston Singletary, Jacob Lawrence and Gwendolyn Knight.