Abstract Expressionism was an influential art movement from the 1940s-1950s known for spontaneous, expressive styles. It encompassed action painting and color field painting. Key artists included Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Mark Rothko. Op Art from the 1950s-1970s used optical illusions to create the illusion of movement through geometric shapes and lines. Pop Art emerged in the late 1950s-1960s as a reflection of consumer culture, using images from popular culture and advertising. Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein were influential Pop artists. Minimalism of the 1960s-1970s stripped art to basic geometric forms and materials to remove expression. Key minimalist artists were Richard Serra,

1. Art Movements
Abstract Expressionism
to Conceptual Art

2. Art Movements
To begin click on a movement. Learn about aspects of the movement.
Then click on a highlighted artist to learn more.
Click on the artist name to connect to their web biographies.
Click on the text in the bottom corner to return.
• Abstract • Minimalism
Expressionism • Conceptual Art
• Op Art
• Pop Art

3. Abstract Expressionism
• Paint and draw using instinct, psychic self-expression to
spontaneously arrange space, line, shape, and color.
• Encompasses Action and Color Field Painting
– Action is more violent and about the physical act of
painting over subject matter
– Color Field is calmer using large canvases with saturated
painting
• From the Mid- 1940s to the 1950s
• Artists: Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Mark
Rothko, Franz Kline, Ad Reinhardt, Lee Krasner ect.
Art Movements

4. Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock, American, 1912-1956 Using a drip technique by which he
Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) 1950 controlled the the application of multiple
Enamel on Canvas layers of paint created through the physical
The Metropolitan Museum of Art action of painting.
Abstract Expressionism

5. Willem de
Kooning
Willem de
Kooning, American, 1904 –
1997, known for his depictions
of women that later become
light open abstractions. Using
flat bold color and vast whites
that create expansive space.
Willem de Kooning; American, 1904 – 1997
Untitled XIII 1985
oil on canvas
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Abstract Expressionism

6. Most of his works consist of
three or four bands of color, “the
simple expression of the complex
thought”. The Edges of shapes
are feathered and soft. The
paints are applied by rags and
sponges creating many layers and
depth.
Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko, American, born in Russia, 1903-1970
No. 13 (White, Red on Yellow) 1958
Oil and acrylic with powdered pigments on canvas
Abstract Expressionism The Metropolitan Museum of Art

7. Op Art
• Optical Art, where perception is abstracted
• Mid-1950s to early 1970s
• Optical illusions giving the illusion of movement or
depth
• Often Non-representational
• Prescience geometric shapes and lines that repeated
creating dimension
• Subject matter is non-representational
• Artists: Josef Albers, Bridget Riley, Victor
Vasarely, Richard Anuszkiewicz, Julian Stanczak, ect.
Art Movements

8. Bridget Riley 1931-
Fission 1963
Tempera on Board
University of California, San Diego
Bridget
Riley
Riley’s work creates the
feeling of movement here
using black shapes on white.
The use of other geometric
shapes in her work produce
the sensation of movement or
color for the viewer.
Op Art

9. Albers Work deals with the
effect of color on the eye. That
creates a relationship between
figure and ground. Crisp forms
are often created using Screen-
printing so as to not detract
from the form with
brushstrokes.
Josef Albers
Josef Albers, American, born in Germany 1888-1976
Homage to the Square: Soft Spoken 1969
Oil on Masonite
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Op Art

10. Pop Art
• Late 1950s to 1960s
• Reflection of modern culture and Post War
Consumer Culture
• Comical and Object based subject matter with
ideas that are highly recognizable.
• Vivid Colors, bold shapes
• Artists: Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, David
Hockney, Tom Wesselmann, ect.
Art Movements

11. Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol, American, 1930 – 1987
Mao, 1972
Silkscreen Print
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Warhol is most know for is stylistic
portraits of poop culture icons, such
as celebrities and political figures.
As talented painter, printmaker, and
filmmaker Warhol used methods of
mass production to creates some of
the most iconic images from the 60’s
to the 70’s but exploiting
consumerism and mass media.
Pop Art

12. Roy Lichtenstein
Lichtenstein uses bold black
outlining and dots of color in
the style of many comics. His
images often are narrative
and like with comics include
some text. His most popular
works are 2 D although he
has many sculptures that
incorporate his comic style.
Roy Lichtenstein, American 1923-1997
Reflections: Wonder Woman, 1989
Oil and magna on canvas
The Estate of Roy Lichtenstein / Roy Lichtenstein Foundation.
Pop Art

13. Minimalism
• 1960’s to 1970’s in the United States
• Idea was to strip the medium to the essentials
• Most work of this movement is 3 dimensional
• Geometric forms that were repetitive and neutral
• Reaction to the Abstract Expressionist; lacks
expression or the representation of objects
• Artists: Richard Serra, Frank Stella, Robert
Morris, Donald Judd, ect.
Art Movements

14. Serra creates large scale steel sculptures
Richard Serra using the nature of his materials to his
advantage. His minimalistic style
connects the material with the process.
Richard Serra,
1939
Balanced,1970
hot rolled steel
Installation
Larry Qualls
Minimalism

15. Frank Stella, American, 1936 –
Quathlamba II 1967 Frank Stella paints the the
Color Lithograph idea in mind that the paining
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is an object rather than a
representation.
Frank Stella Minimalism

16. Conceptual Art
• Mid-1960’s to 1970’s, World Wide Movement
• Idea based works, present a reaction to the
business of art
• Goes beyond traditional art limitations
• Often the concept is the art and the
documentation is the product seen by the viewer
• Subject matter varies a wide spectrum from
political, social, and cultural.
• Artists: Lawrence Weiner, Joseph Kosuth, Dennis
Oppenheim, Hans Haacke, ect.
Art Movements

17. Lawrence Weiner
Weiner like many
conceptual artist set a
specific parameter for his
works that he must follow.
His mediums vary
depending on which may
best represent the idea.
Many works are text, or
typographically, based.
Lawrence Weiner, American, 1942-
Five Figures of Structure, 1986
Instillation of Text
Larry Qualls
Conceptual Art

18. Oppenheim is known for
his
Conceptual, Performance,
and Earth Art. His work
shown on the right is mix
of all of these things. He
connects the act of
shoveling the snow with
the pattern of a tree’s
growth, to the idea of the
Division of Canada and
and the United States by
time and water.
Oppenheim, Dennis, 1938-
Annual Rings, St. John River, Fort Kent, Maine 1968
Documentation of Conceptual Work
University of California, San Diego
Dennis Oppenheim Conceptual Art

19. Joseph Kosuth Kosuth works in limitations, exploring the
One and Three Chairs , 1969 Nature of Art by creating it. This piece is
Conceptual Project Documentation in three parts: a photograph of the
University of California, San Diego chair, the book definition of a chair and an
actual chair. He does this to represent
Plato’s work on the Nature of Forms.
Joseph
Kosuth
Conceptual Art

20. References
Baigell, Matthew. A Concise History Of American Painting And Sculpture: Revised Edition.
United States: Westview Press, 1996. Print.
Hudelson, Mark. "Movements in Twentieth-Century Art After World War II.”
Prof. Hudelson's Website. 2007. Palomar College. 4 Aug 2009
<http://daphne.palomar.edu/mhudelson/StudyGuides/20thCentLate_WA.html>.
"Multiple Collection Search." ARTstor. 2009. Mellon Foundation. 4 Aug 2009
<http://www.artstor.org>.