Lee Krasner | |
|---|---|
 Krasner in 1983 | |
| Born | Lena Krassner October 27, 1908 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | June 19, 1984 (aged 75) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Cooper Union National Academy of Design Hans Hofmann |
| Known for | Painting, collage |
| Movement | Abstract expressionism |
| Spouse | |
Lenore "Lee" Krasner (born Lena Krassner; October 27, 1908 – June 19, 1984) was an American painter and visual artist active primarily in New York whose work has been associated with the Abstract Expressionist movement. She received her early academic training at the Women's Art School of Cooper Union, and the National Academy of Design from 1928 to 1932. Krasner's exposure to Post-Impressionism at the newly opened Museum of Modern Art in 1929 led to a sustained interest in modern art. In 1937, she enrolled in classes taught by Hans Hofmann, which led her to integrate influences of Cubism into her paintings. During the Great Depression, Krasner joined the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project, transitioning to war propaganda artworks during the War Services era.
By the 1940s, Krasner was an established figure among the American abstract artists of the New York School,[1] with a network including painters such as Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko. However, Krasner's career was often overshadowed by that of her husband, Jackson Pollock, whom she married in 1945. Their life was marred by Pollock's infidelity and alcoholism, while his untimely death in a drunk-driving incident in 1956 had a deep emotional impact on Krasner.[2][3] The late 1950s to the early 1960s in Krasner's work were characterized by a more expressive and gestural style. In her later years, she received broader artistic and commercial recognition and shifted toward large horizontal paintings marked by hard-edge lines and bright contrasting colors.
During her life, Krasner received numerous honorary degrees, including Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Stony Brook University. Following Krasner's death in 1984, critic Robert Hughes described her as "the Mother Courage of Abstract Expressionism" and a posthumous retrospective exhibition of her work was held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.[4] Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center in Springs, New York and the Pollock-Krasner Foundation were established to preserve the work and cultural influence of her and her husband. The latter has since focused on supporting new artists and art historical scholarship in American art.
- ^ Nemser, Cindy (December 1, 1973). "Lee Krasner's Paintings, 1946–49". Artforum. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
Lee Krasner is a vital and influential member of the first generation of the New York School.
- ^ Cooke, Rachel (May 12, 2019). "Reframing Lee Krasner, the artist formerly known as Mrs Pollock". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
Pollock was killed in a car accident, having taken the wheel while drunk, in 1956, at the age of 44. Though he and Krasner were by then somewhat estranged (...), she was overcome with grief; there are those who believe she never fully recovered from the shock.
- ^ Farago, Jason (August 19, 2019). "Lee Krasner, Hiding in Plain Sight". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
Krasner received little attention from museums until her 60s, and she has rarely stepped out of the shadow of Jackson Pollock, her husband from 1945 until his early death in 1956.
- ^ "Lee Krasner Lauded in Memorial Service at the Met Museum". The New York Times. September 18, 1984. pp. Section B, Page 8. Retrieved October 18, 2023.