Robert Motherwell

Robert Motherwell was an American artist who was a major figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement. He was born in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1915, and he studied at Stanford University and the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1948, he moved to New York City, where he quickly became involved in the city's avant-garde art scene.

Motherwell's early work was influenced by Surrealism, but he soon began to develop his own unique style. He is best known for his large-scale abstract paintings, which are often characterized by their use of bold colors and gestural brushstrokes. Motherwell's paintings are often considered to be some of the most important works of American art of the 20th century.

Motherwell was also a prolific printmaker, and he created a number of important series of prints, including the "Elegies to the Spanish Republic" series (1937-1968). He also worked in other media, including sculpture and collage.

Motherwell was a major figure in the American art world, and his work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world. He has received numerous awards, including the National Medal of Arts in 1991.

Early Life

Robert Motherwell was born on January 24, 1915, in Aberdeen, Washington. He was the son of Robert Burns Motherwell, a traveling salesman, and Margaret Hogan Motherwell, a homemaker. Motherwell had two older sisters, Pat and Dot. Motherwell's childhood was marked by tragedy. When he was just five years old, his father died in a car accident. This event had a profound impact on Motherwell, and it would later influence his art.

Motherwell was a bright and curious child, and he showed an early interest in art. He would often draw and paint, and he would also take apart and rebuild radios and other machines. In 1933, Motherwell graduated from high school and enrolled at Stanford University. Stanford is a private research university in Stanford, California. Motherwell studied philosophy at Stanford for two years, but he left the university in 1935 to travel to Europe.

Travels to Europe

In 1935, Motherwell traveled to Europe, where he spent the next two years studying art and living in Paris, France. While in Paris, Motherwell was exposed to a wide range of artistic influences, including Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism.

Return to the United States

In 1937, Motherwell returned to the United States, where he enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago. The Art Institute of Chicago is a public art museum and school of art in Chicago, Illinois. Motherwell studied painting at the Art Institute for two years, but he left the university in 1939 to pursue a career as a full-time artist.

Early Career

In 1939, Motherwell moved to New York City, where he quickly became involved in the city's avant-garde art scene. He exhibited his work in galleries and museums, and he met and befriended a number of other artists, including Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Mark Rothko.

In 1948, Motherwell began creating his signature paintings, which are often characterized by their use of bold colors and gestural brushstrokes. Motherwell's paintings are often considered to be some of the most important works of American art of the 20th century.

Later Career

Motherwell continued to be a major figure in the American art world throughout his career. He exhibited his work in major exhibitions around the world, and he received numerous awards, including the National Medal of Arts in 1991.

Motherwell died on July 16, 1991, at the age of 76. He was survived by his wife, Helen Frankenthaler, and their son, Christopher Motherwell.

Legacy

Robert Motherwell was a major figure in the American art world. His work was groundbreaking and influential, and it helped to shape the course of modern art. Motherwell was a true innovator, and his work continues to inspire and challenge artists today.