Abstract Expressionism, dominant in post-World War II America, emphasized spontaneous, gestural abstraction and emotional expression. Pioneered by artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, the movement rejected traditional representation in favor of large-scale canvases filled with dynamic brushstrokes. Abstract Expressionists believed in the individual’s unique expression and the transformative power of art. The movement played a crucial role in establishing New York as a leading center for contemporary art and paved the way for subsequent artistic developments.
- Jackson Pollock
- Willem de Kooning
- Mark Rothko
- Franz Kline
- Clyfford Still
- Robert Motherwell
- Helen Frankenthaler
- Barnett Newman
- Ad Reinhardt
- Lee Krasner