Art Movements

Abstract Expressionism to Conceptual Art

Art Movements

• Abstract Expressionism

• Op Art• Pop Art

To begin click on a movement. Learn about aspects of the movement. Then click on a highlighted artist to learn more.

Click on the artist name to connect to their web biographies. Click on the text in the bottom corner to return.

• Minimalism• Conceptual Art

Abstract Expressionism

• Paint and draw using instinct, psychic self-expression to spontaneously arrange space, line, shape, and color.

• Encompasses Action and Color Field Painting– Action is more violent and about the physical act of painting

over subject matter– Color Field is calmer using large canvases with saturated

painting • From the Mid- 1940s to the 1950s• Artists: Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Mark

Rothko, Franz Kline, Ad Reinhardt, Lee Krasner ect.

Art Movements

Jackson Pollock, American, 1912-1956Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) 1950Enamel on CanvasThe Metropolitan Museum of Art

Using a drip technique by which he controlled the the application of multiple layers of paint created through the physical action of painting.

Abstract Expressionism

Jackson Pollock

Willem de Kooning; American, 1904 – 1997Untitled XIII 1985oil on canvasThe Cleveland Museum of Art

Willem de Kooning, American, 1904 – 1997, known for his depictions of women that later become light open abstractions. Using flat bold color and vast whites that create expansive space.

Abstract Expressionism

Willem de Kooning

Mark Rothko, American, born in Russia, 1903-1970No. 13 (White, Red on Yellow) 1958

Oil and acrylic with powdered pigments on canvasThe Metropolitan Museum of Art

Most of his works consist of three or four bands of color, “the simple expression of the complex thought”. The Edges of shapes are feathered and soft. The paints are applied by rags and sponges creating many layers and depth.

Abstract Expressionism

Mark Rothko

Op Art

• Optical Art, where perception is abstracted• Mid-1950s to early 1970s• Optical illusions giving the illusion of movement or

depth• Often Non-representational• Prescience geometric shapes and lines that repeated

creating dimension • Subject matter is non-representational• Artists: Josef Albers, Bridget Riley, Victor Vasarely,

Richard Anuszkiewicz, Julian Stanczak, ect. Art Movements

Op Art

Bridget Riley 1931-Fission 1963 Tempera on BoardUniversity of California, San Diego

Riley’s work creates the feeling of movement here using black shapes on white. The use of other geometric shapes in her work produce the sensation of movement or color for the viewer.

Bridget Riley

Op Art

Josef Albers, American, born in Germany 1888-1976Homage to the Square: Soft Spoken 1969Oil on MasoniteThe Metropolitan Museum of Art

Albers Work deals with the effect of color on the eye. That creates a relationship between figure and ground. Crisp forms are often created using Screen-printing so as to not detract from the form with brushstrokes.

Josef Albers

Pop Art• Late 1950s to 1960s• Reflection of modern culture and Post War

Consumer Culture• Comical and Object based subject matter with

ideas that are highly recognizable.• Vivid Colors, bold shapes• Artists: Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, David

Hockney, Tom Wesselmann, ect.

Art Movements

Andy WarholAndy Warhol, American, 1930 – 1987Mao, 1972Silkscreen PrintThe Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Warhol is most know for is stylistic portraits of poop culture icons, such as celebrities and political figures.As talented painter, printmaker, and filmmaker Warhol used methods of mass production to creates some of the most iconic images from the 60’s to the 70’s but exploiting consumerism and mass media.

Pop Art

Roy Lichtenstein Lichtenstein uses bold black outlining and dots of color in the style of many comics. His images often are narrative and like with comics include some text. His most popular works are 2 D although he has many sculptures that incorporate his comic style.

Roy Lichtenstein, American 1923-1997Reflections: Wonder Woman, 1989Oil and magna on canvasThe Estate of Roy Lichtenstein / Roy Lichtenstein Foundation.

Pop Art

Minimalism

• 1960’s to 1970’s in the United States• Idea was to strip the medium to the essentials• Most work of this movement is 3 dimensional • Geometric forms that were repetitive and

neutral• Reaction to the Abstract Expressionist; lacks

expression or the representation of objects• Artists: Richard Serra, Frank Stella, Robert

Morris, Donald Judd, ect. Art Movements

Minimalism

Richard Serra,1939Balanced, 1970 hot rolled steel InstallationLarry Qualls

Serra creates large scale steel sculptures using the nature of his materials to his advantage. His minimalistic style connects the material with the process.

Richard Serra

MinimalismFrank Stella

Frank Stella, American, 1936 –Quathlamba II 1967Color LithographFine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Frank Stella paints the the idea in mind that the paining is an object rather than a representation.

Conceptual Art

• Mid-1960’s to 1970’s, World Wide Movement• Idea based works, present a reaction to the business

of art• Goes beyond traditional art limitations• Often the concept is the art and the documentation is

the product seen by the viewer• Subject matter varies a wide spectrum from political,

social, and cultural.• Artists: Lawrence Weiner, Joseph Kosuth,

Dennis Oppenheim, Hans Haacke, ect. Art Movements

Conceptual Art

Lawrence Weiner

Weiner like many conceptual artist set a specific parameter for his works that he must follow. His mediums vary depending on which may best represent the idea. Many works are text, or typographically, based.

Lawrence Weiner, American, 1942- Five Figures of Structure, 1986Instillation of TextLarry Qualls

Conceptual ArtDennis Oppenheim

Oppenheim is known for his Conceptual, Performance, and Earth Art. His work shown on the right is mix of all of these things. He connects the act of shoveling the snow with the pattern of a tree’s growth, to the idea of the Division of Canada and and the United States by time and water.

Oppenheim, Dennis, 1938-Annual Rings, St. John River, Fort Kent, Maine 1968Documentation of Conceptual WorkUniversity of California, San Diego

Conceptual Art

JosephKosuth

Joseph KosuthOne and Three Chairs , 1969Conceptual Project DocumentationUniversity of California, San Diego

Kosuth works in limitations, exploring the Nature of Art by creating it. This piece is in three parts: a photograph of the chair, the book definition of a chair and an actual chair. He does this to represent Plato’s work on the Nature of Forms.

ReferencesBaigell, Matthew. A Concise History Of American Painting And Sculpture: Revised Edition.

United States: Westview Press, 1996. Print.

Hudelson, Mark. "Movements in Twentieth-Century Art After World War II.”

Prof. Hudelson's Website. 2007. Palomar College. 4 Aug 2009

<http://daphne.palomar.edu/mhudelson/StudyGuides/20thCentLate_WA.html>.

"Multiple Collection Search." ARTstor. 2009. Mellon Foundation. 4 Aug 2009

<http://www.artstor.org>.