This slideshow was created as an introduction to a Year 9 unit on Abstract Expressionism, it was designed as a starting point for further research into specific artists of the movement and its wider influences. It was also designed as a starting point into a practical exercise recreating the 'sentiment' of AE without necessarily reproducing the 'methods'. It needs editing.

1. ABSTRACT
EXPRESSOINISM
ABSTRACT
EXPRESSIONISM
1940’S-50’S U.S.A.

2. LEADING ARTISTS:
JACKSON POLLOCK
MARK ROTHKO
WILLEM DE KOONING
FRANZ KLINE
THIS WAS CONSIDERED VERY SERIOUS
“HIGH” ART
ART CRITICS PLAYED A LARGE ROLE IN
MAKING ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM A
LEADING ART FORM

3. ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISTSABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISTS:
- WERE INFLUENCED BY SURREALISTS
AND THEIR WORK WITH THE
UNCONCIOUS
- -ALSO PICASSO & CUBISM
- -THEY TRIED TO PAINT ABSTRACT
EMOTIONS WHICH THEY SAW AS
“PURE” AND “TRUE”
- -THEY MADE MASSIVE PAINTINGS
- -THEY CARED ABOUT THE PROCESS
OF PAINTING

4. CAN BE SPLIT INTO TWO
BROAD STYLES:
THE ACTION PAINTERS
&
THE COLOUR FIELD PAINTERS

5. JACKSON POLLOCK 1912-1956
LEADER OF THE ACTION PAINTERS

6. MARK ROTHKO 1903- 1970
LEAD THE COLOUR FIELD PAINTERS

7. OTHER ACTION PAINTERS:
WILLEM
DE KOONING

8. FRANZ KLINE

9. “ACTION PAINTERS”:
- -GESTURAL
- -MOVEMENT
- -ACTION
- DIRECTION
- THICK PAINT
- -LARGE SCALE
- -BOLD BRUSH
STROKES

10. OTHER COLOUR FIELD
PAINTERS:
ADOLPH GOTTLIEB

11. HELEN FRANKENTHALER

12. COLOUR FIELD PAINTERS:
- -LARGE FIELDS OR
SHAPES OF COLOUR
- -FIELDS SEEM TO HOVER
OR “FLOAT”
- -BLENDED BRUSH
STROKES
- -CALM AND GENTLE
- -SPIRITUAL
- -MEDITATIVE QUALITY

13. AND PLENTY IN BETWEEN
THESE CATEGORIES:
LEE KRASNER

14. CY TWOMBLEY

15. MARK TOBEY

16. TOBEY &
POLLOCK

17. POLLOCK & PICASSO

18. SURREALISM VS ABSTRACT
EXPRESSIONISM
SURREALISTS:
-TAP THE
SUBCONCIOUS
THROUGH AUTOMATIC
DRAWING & WRITING
ABSTRACT
EXPRESSIONIST:
-TAP THE
SUBCONCIOUS
THROUGH AUTOMATIC
DRAWING & PAINTING

19. ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM:
THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION OF THE AVANT
GUARD ART?
+
+
ABSTRACTION 1910
EXPRESSIONISM
1920’S
SURREALISM 1930’S
=

20. FREEDOM
= TRUTH

21. PURE
EMOTION
=TRUTH

22. POP ART
1960’s: Rebelled against the SERIOUSNESS of
the Abstract Expressionists

23. & Neo-Expressionism
in the 1980’s

25. What else did Abstract
Expressionism lead
to?
Agnes Martin
“Meditative”
“Tranquil”
“Calm”

27. YAYOI KUSAMAYAYOI KUSAMA
INFINITY NETS

30. which then lead to:

31. infinity rooms