Association of American Painters and Sculptors

Association of American Painters and Sculptors was a pivotal organization in the development of modern art in the United States, founded by Arthur B. Davies, Walt Kuhn, and Walter Pach in 1911. The association aimed to promote and showcase the work of American artists, such as John Sloan, Edward Hopper, and George Bellows, who were influenced by European modernism and the Ashcan School. The organization's efforts were instrumental in introducing American audiences to the works of Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Marcel Duchamp, among other notable European artists. This exposure had a profound impact on the development of American art, influencing artists such as Stuart Davis, Charles Demuth, and Marsden Hartley.

● History

The Association of American Painters and Sculptors was established in 1911 with the goal of organizing an international exhibition of modern art in New York City. The association's founders, including Arthur B. Davies, Walt Kuhn, and Walter Pach, were instrumental in securing funding and support from prominent collectors and artists, such as John Quinn, Lillie P. Bliss, and Mary Cassatt. The association's early efforts were influenced by the Society of Independent Artists, founded by Albert Pinkham Ryder and John Sloan, and the Photo-Secession movement, led by Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen. The association's activities also intersected with those of the Armory Show organizers, including Patterson Sims and Milton Brown, who were instrumental in promoting American modernism.

● Organization

The Association of American Painters and Sculptors was governed by a committee of artists and collectors, including Walt Kuhn, Walter Pach, and Arthur B. Davies. The organization's structure was influenced by the Société des Artistes Indépendants in Paris, which was founded by Georges Seurat, Paul Signac, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The association's members, including John Marin, Stuart Davis, and Charles Demuth, played a crucial role in shaping the organization's activities and exhibitions. The association also collaborated with other organizations, such as the Whitney Studio Club, founded by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, and the Art Students League of New York, which was attended by artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe and Edward Hopper.

● Exhibitions

The Association of American Painters and Sculptors organized several influential exhibitions, including the Armory Show in 1913, which introduced American audiences to the works of European modernists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Marcel Duchamp. The exhibition, which was held at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York City, featured over 1,000 works by more than 300 artists, including American artists such as John Sloan, Edward Hopper, and George Bellows. The association also organized exhibitions at the Montross Gallery, the Macbeth Gallery, and the Whitney Studio Club, which showcased the work of artists such as Marsden Hartley, Charles Demuth, and Stuart Davis. These exhibitions were instrumental in promoting American modernism and introducing American audiences to the latest developments in European art, including the works of Fauvists such as Henri Matisse and André Derain.

● Notable Members

The Association of American Painters and Sculptors had a diverse membership, including artists such as John Sloan, Edward Hopper, and George Bellows, who were associated with the Ashcan School. Other notable members included Stuart Davis, Charles Demuth, and Marsden Hartley, who were influenced by European modernism and the Cubist movement. The association also included artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Arthur Dove, and John Marin, who were associated with the American Modernist movement. The organization's members were also influenced by the works of European artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Marcel Duchamp, who were introduced to American audiences through the association's exhibitions.

● Legacy

The Association of American Painters and Sculptors played a significant role in shaping the development of modern art in the United States. The organization's exhibitions, particularly the Armory Show, introduced American audiences to the latest developments in European art and influenced a generation of American artists, including Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Barnett Newman. The association's legacy can be seen in the work of artists such as Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, and Robert Rauschenberg, who were influenced by the Abstract Expressionist movement. The association's activities also intersected with those of other organizations, such as the Museum of Modern Art, founded by Alfred H. Barr Jr., Lillie P. Bliss, and Mary Quinn Sullivan, and the Guggenheim Museum, founded by Solomon R. Guggenheim and Hilla von Rebay. The association's legacy continues to be felt in the American art world, with its influence evident in the work of artists such as Jasper Johns, Robert Smithson, and Cindy Sherman.