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Robert Motherwell More Furniture and Collectibles

American, 1915-1991

The name of painter, printmaker and writer Robert Motherwell (1915–91) is often taken as synonymous with the New York School, whose name he coined. Motherwell was the youngest of this group of Abstract Expressionists working in art, dance, poetry and music in 1950s and '60s New York City, which included Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Philip Guston, Helen Frankenthaler and Mark Rothko.

Born in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1915, Motherwell had perhaps the broadest and best education of any of the New York School coterie, with an extensive background in philosophy, literature and art history. He earned a BA in philosophy in 1937 from Stanford University and was working toward a PhD in the subject at Harvard when he interrupted his studies for a yearlong trip to Europe, where he fell in love with European modernism.

After returning, in 1940 he enrolled Columbia to study art history. It was there that he met a group of exiled Parisian Surrealists, and encounter that proved influential on his style. Motherwell began to integrate the idea of “automatism” — unmediated gestures that reflect deeper psychological impulses — into his work, pioneering a new form of Abstract Expressionism that came to characterize the New York School.

Works like the 1967 Beside the Sea no. 45, an acrylic on canvas, and the 1966 lithograph New York International epitomize Motherwell’s use of simple shapes in boldly contrasting colors, executed in quick, gestural strokes that occasionally evoke figures, suggesting a latent narrative despite their obvious abstraction.

Throughout his career, Motherwell taught painting at Hunter College, in New York, and at Black Mountain College, in North Carolina, where his work influenced the likes of Cy Twombly, Robert Rauschenberg and Kenneth Noland. His influence as one of the founding fathers of American Abstract Expressionism remains profound.

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Creator: Robert Motherwell
El Negro - Robert Motherwell (1915-1991)
By Robert Motherwell
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
El Negro" by Robert Motherwell is a meticulously crafted artist's book showcasing nineteen lithographs, notable for their vibrant colors and the inclusion of Chine collé in three of ...
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1980s North American Vintage Robert Motherwell More Furniture and Collectibles

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Robert Motherwell Signed Catalogue with Lithograph- Selected Prints, 1961-1974
By Robert Motherwell
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First edition from an edition of 4000, published by Brooke Alexander, 1975. Untitled 1974. Lithograph with collage printed on Rives B.F.K. parer 10 x 24 inches This rare catalogue...
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1970s American Vintage Robert Motherwell More Furniture and Collectibles

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Robert Motherwell more furniture and collectibles for sale on 1stDibs.

Robert Motherwell more furniture and collectibles are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of paper and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Robert Motherwell more furniture and collectibles, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider more furniture and collectibles by Frank Lloyd Wright, Robert E. McGinnis, and Barry Kieselstein-Cord. Prices for Robert Motherwell more furniture and collectibles can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,189 and can go as high as $10,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,595.
Questions About Robert Motherwell More Furniture and Collectibles
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Robert Motherwell was a part of the art movement called Abstract Expressionism. Artists who participated in the movement sought to express emotions through abstract forms. You'll find a range of Robert Motherwell art from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

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