Spheres of AbEx - Heather James Fine Art
Spheres of AbEx - Heather James Fine Art Spheres of AbEx - Heather James Fine Art
NORMAN BLUHM (1921-1999) embraced abstraction and propelled itforward, blending figurative elements, eroticism and calligraphic agility toarrive at a sensibility all his own. His work was informed less by movementsand orthodoxies than by his own exceptional biography and his richknowledge of, and respect for, the history of art. Bluhm was justifiablysecure enough in his talent and training to honor Europe and the historyof art without compromising his identity as an American painter.Bluhm initially studied the Bauhaus approach to architecture while alsospending his spare time learning to fly. After the attack on Pearl Harborduring World War II, Bluhm became a B-Pilot and flew 44 missions overNorth Africa and Europe before getting wounded and sent home. After thewar he decided to discard his career as an architect and moved to Pariswhere he attended art classes at the Académie de la Grande Chaumiéreand Ecole des Beaux Arts. In 1956, he returned to New York and begana lifelong, successful career as an Abstract Expressionist painter. He waspart of a vibrant and glamorous “movement,” socializing with a handful ofart-world titans and collaborating with the curator and poet Frank O’Harato create a legendary collection of “Poem Paintings.” An important figure inthe heyday of Abstract Expressionism, Bluhm enjoyed substantial criticalsuccess during his lifetime. His work is included in the collections of theMetropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney and the Museum of Modern Art.However, he found greater solace in painting than in fame or academictheorizing about art. Gradually he moved farther and farther from New York,eventually settling in a still corner of rural Vermont. Bluhm was enthralledwith painting itself not fame or public relations. For him the studio was thecenter of the art universe and whether in Paris, New York, or Vermont heallowed himself to be led by its constant demands.
NORMANBLUHM
- Page 1 and 2: PAINTERLYABSTRACTIONSpheres of AbEx
- Page 3: PAINTERLYABSTRACTIONSpheres of AbEx
- Page 6 and 7: UntitledSigned lower right Mary Abb
- Page 9 and 10: PresenceSigned lower right M A;sign
- Page 12 and 13: KAREL APPEL (1921-2006) was a Dutch
- Page 15 and 16: Kra-13Signed lower right AppelAcryl
- Page 21 and 22: Tic-Tac-ToeSigned and dated lower l
- Page 23: UntitledSigned and dated lower righ
- Page 26 and 27: WARREN BRANDT (1918-2002) was born
- Page 29 and 30: Rock Island BlindSigned and dated l
- Page 31 and 32: LYNNEMAPP DREXLER
- Page 34 and 35: UntitledSigned and dated verso L. D
- Page 37 and 38: Early SpringSigned and dated lower
- Page 39: FRIEDELDZUBAS
- Page 42: Red FlightSigned on versoOil on can
- Page 45: LOUISEFISHMAN
- Page 48 and 49: SAM FRANCIS (1923-1994) was born in
- Page 53 and 54: Untitled (Black and White Compositi
- Page 55: JOHNGRILLO
- Page 58: UntitledSigned and dated lower righ
- Page 61: MICHAELGOLDBERG
- Page 64: Landscape (On the way to New Lisbon
NORMANBLUHM
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