What Art Movements Emerged From the New York School?

The New York School are artists who participated in creating contemporary art from the early 1940s in and around New York City. The New York School marked a shift when the art world’s center moved from Europe to the United States.

One of the major movements that emerged from the New York school was Abstract Expressionism. This is a significant art movement that started after World War II. Another art movement that is credited to start in New York City is Minimalism.

Even though pop art originally started in Britain, many considered it an American movement because it was produced based on American culture.

The New York school included an informal group of American poets, painters, dancers, musicians who were active in the 1950s and 60s New York City. So even though we mainly think of this movement as one of art, it encompasses many other types of art such as poetry, dancing, and music.

Chief By Franz Kline

No 13 White Red On Yellow By Mark Rothko

Abstract Expressionism and the New York School

Abstract Expressionism is one of the most important art movements to emerge after World War II. The New York school influenced the abstract expressionism movement.

Abstract Expressionism became the predominant western painting movement during the 1950s. Some of the most prominent American abstract expressionist painters include Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, and Franz Kline.

Abstract Expressionism is the first artistic movement that entirely shifted the center of the Western Art world from Europe to America and, more important, New York City. It also shifted the style of art as many Abstract Expressionist artists used new synthetic industrial paints in their work, large-scale canvas, and individualized abstract styles.

As abstract Expressionism is the first truly American art movement to come out of New York City, critics were split about this movement as much as other past art movements as Impressionism. Many art critics discounted Abstract Art.

Art critics such as Clement Greenberg (1909 – 1994) said that it was an advanced form of western art.

To the horror of many in the art world in Europe, Greenberg was telling them that the great art of Europe was no longer being produced in Europe but instead in New York City. Greenberg felt if you were an artist, the place to be was New York and not Paris or London.

Abstract Expressionism also owes its alliances to collectors like Peggy Guggenheim and curators at the MoMA’s as Alfred Barr that helped Abstract Expressionism be on its way as a genuinely American Art Movement. Even though the work was not popular with the American public at the time these collectors saw the value of Abstract Expressionism art.

Action Painting

When speaking about the New York School and Abstract Expressionism, we also need to talk about a technique many Abstract Expressionists use called action painting. Action painting, sometimes called Gestural abstraction, is a painting style where the paint is dripped, splashed, or smeared on the canvas.

This kind of application is very different than other kinds of painting where the paint is carefully applied to the canvas. Though this painting has been seen in Europe, it is closely linked to the Abstract Expressionism movement.

Minimalism Art And The New York School

Minimalism Art is another art movement that is credited to coming out of New York School. Minimalism, which started in the late 1960s, is characterized by extreme forms of simplicity. The art is usually comprised of simple geometric shapes such as squares or triangles.

Minimalism felt that art should have its own reality and not imitate other things. With Minimalism no attempt is made to represent any reality. The artist wants the viewer to only respond to what is in front of them. It is a kind of what you see is what you get kind attitude for art.

Pop Art (Britain and New York)

Even though pop art started first in Britain in the mid-1950s and later went to America in the late 1950s, many people still associate pop art with New York City. This is because New York City created a different type of pop art than British Pop art.

British pop art is best defined as the artist looking at the art from a culturally outside perspective. Meaning they are looking at the American culture, particularly Hollywood, from an outside perspective of not living or working in Hollywood or the United States.

The American artists were inspired by what they saw and their experiences within the United States culture. So the American pop art in America with more defined by the culture within the United States. This was one of the main differences between American pop art and British pop art.

This is also one reason why many people consider pop art to have emerged for American Pop Art really started in Britain. But Pop Art is worth mentioning as it was influenced by the New York School.

There is no doubt that the New York School has had a tremendous effect on the art world. The New York School put American and New York on the map an important art center for the world; the New York School also brought us some unique and creative forms of artistic expression. Many of the most well-known and great American artists were part of this New York School.

Abstract Art, Minimalism, and Pop Art are all great and inspiring art movements. Anita Louise Art is a website dedicated to art education, great artists around the world, and inspiring others to find and create their art. #ArtThatMakesYouSmile #ArtThatMakesYouHappy

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How Do Art Movements Begin?

Understanding art movements are not just important for the artist but also for anyone interested in art. We can learn many things from the art movements that will help us understand history, art techniques, art themes, and how art is created. To truly understand art, we need to understand art movements.

By clicking here, you can learn more by reading How Do Art Movements Begin?.