American Abstract Artists

American Abstract Artists is a collective founded in New York City in 1936 to promote and foster public understanding of abstract art. Established during a period when American Scene painting and Social Realism dominated the national art scene, the organization provided a crucial platform for artists working in non-objective styles. Through annual exhibitions, publications, and lectures, it became a foundational force for the development of modern art in the United States, directly influencing the rise of the New York School and Abstract Expressionism.

History and founding

The group was formed in 1936 by a core of artists including Rosalind Bengelsdorf, Ilya Bolotowsky, Ibram Lassaw, and Ad Reinhardt, with early support from influential figures like Josef Albers, Burgoyne Diller, and Harry Holtzman. Its founding was a direct response to the exclusion of abstract work from major institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art, which favored representational styles. The volatile political climate of the Great Depression and the rise of fascism in Europe, which brought émigré artists like Piet Mondrian and László Moholy-Nagy to American shores, also fueled its creation. Early meetings were often held at Studio 35 and other artist-run spaces in Greenwich Village, establishing a model of peer support and intellectual debate independent of the commercial gallery system.

Notable members and artists

The membership has included many pivotal figures in 20th-century art. Early influential members comprised George L. K. Morris, Charles Shaw, and A. E. Gallatin, whose collection later formed the basis of the Museum of Living Art. Key female pioneers such as Alice Trumbull Mason, Esphyr Slobodkina, and Perle Fine were instrumental in its activities. Later generations of members linked the group to postwar movements, including Abstract Expressionists like Willem de Kooning and Robert Motherwell, as well as Hard-edge painting practitioners such as Al Held and Frank Stella. Other significant associated artists include Lee Krasner, I. Rice Pereira, Fritz Glarner, and John Ferren.

Exhibitions and publications

The organization mounted its first annual exhibition in 1937 at the Squibb Building in Midtown Manhattan, defiantly presenting abstract work to the public. These yearly shows, often held in unconventional spaces, became a consistent forum for members. A landmark early publication was the 1938 yearbook, which featured essays critiquing institutions like the Museum of Modern Art for its neglect of American abstraction. Later important publications included the 1946 "American Abstract Artists: 1936-1946" anniversary folio. The group also organized traveling exhibitions to venues such as the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, significantly broadening its national reach.

Artistic philosophy and influence

Philosophically, the group championed pure abstraction, drawing from European movements like Neoplasticism, Constructivism, and the teachings of the Bauhaus. They advocated for art based on formal principles of line, color, and plane, separate from narrative or political illustration. This stance positioned them in opposition to the dominant WPA Federal Art Project aesthetics of the time. Their advocacy and rigorous debates provided an essential intellectual framework for the next generation, directly paving the way for the gestural freedom and emphasis on individual expression that characterized the New York School. The lectures and forums they held, sometimes featuring notable European artists like Piet Mondrian, were vital for cross-pollination of ideas.

Legacy and impact

The legacy is profound, as it served as the primary incubator for abstract art in America a full decade before the triumph of Abstract Expressionism. It created a sustained community that nurtured artists who would achieve international fame, thereby helping shift the global art capital from Paris to New York City. The group's model of artist-organized exhibitions and critical writing influenced later collectives such as The Club and the Artists' Union. It continues to operate actively, supporting new generations of abstract artists and preserving the history of this pivotal movement through archives and ongoing exhibitions, ensuring its foundational role in American modernism is recognized.

Category:Art organizations based in New York City Category:American artist groups and collectives Category:Modern art