Gem of the Month: Joan Mitchell
As a fiend for color in painting, it will come as no surprise that I absolutely worship the work of Abstract Expressionist painter Joan Mitchell. It’s very confusing to me—no, it’s i ...
Read More
< Back to Curator’s Corner
Curator’s Corner
An August Painting: Mark Tobey
I know we’re no longer on the “edge of August,” but this painting’s title gives me an excuse to showcase the work of one of the less-hyped New York School artists. Like many of ...
Read More
Curator’s Corner
Saying Goodbye to World Watercolor Month 2023
Watercolor can be a very unforgiving medium—boy, don’t I know it! I started out studying for an MFA in painting using gouache and watercolor, but my professors suggested that what I was tr ...
Read More
Curator’s Corner
Gem of the Month: Morgan Russell
As I did with Charles Willson Peale (1741–1827) last week, I'm presenting another American original today: Morgan Russell. Russell was one of the first American artists to exhibit nono ...
Read More
Curator’s Corner
Celebrating Juneteenth 2023: Norman Lewis
In celebration of Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, let’s honor Harlem Renaissance (ca. 1920s–1930s) (and beyond) artist Norman Lewis, one of the earliest African American artists to embrace abs ...
Read More
Curator’s Corner
Gem for Pride Month 2023: Anne Ryan
Our Gem for this Pride Month is Anne Ryan, an artist who was one of the first women who dedicated a large portion of her body of work to collage. She was one of the many gay artists who were active ar ...
Read More
Curator’s Corner
Pride Month 2023: Ellsworth Kelly
Let’s celebrate the life of one of the pioneers of the Color Field movement in American modernism, Ellsworth Kelly, to mark the beginning of LGBT Pride Month. Kelly was one of the many gay artis ...
Read More
Curator’s Corner
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2023: Walasse Ting
One of the great things about America is the fact that, since colonial times, awesome artists from all over the world have come here and made amazing contributions to American art history. As time has ...
Read More
Curator’s Corner
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2023: Miyoko Ito
Let’s recognize a true original in Chicago abstract painting to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month: Miyoko Ito. There were two strains in painting that characterized th ...
Read More
Curator’s Corner
Spring Green from Gary Hume
In my ongoing celebration of spring, I’m featuring British artist Gary Hume. His Spring Angels series of eight screenprints sets just the right tone with their vibrant colors. In some of the pri ...
Read More