If one could find two words to describe the 20th century it would boil down to “rapid change”. With the passing of World War I and II, the American Civil War, the end of Apartheid, and the weaponization of the atomic bomb.
Henri Matisse was considered to be the most talented painter of the Fauvist and post-Impressionist eras who popularized the cut-paper collage technique.
Piet Mondrian was a highly influential Dutch painter and art theoretician who was closely associated with the De Stijl movement and best known for his bright primary-colored grid paintings, which were created in the first quarter of the 20th century.
Raoul Dufy combined the visual languages of calligraphy with graphic colors, bold lines, and design to produce some of the most playful landscapes and urban scenes.
Malevich, who not only championed the school of Suprematism, also laid the foundations for abstract and non-objective art by using color to express pure feeling and perception in art.
Klee’s unique style was defined by his childlike approach to abstract expressionist painting and surrealist distortions of space. Klee was deeply invested in color theory.
Picasso spent the majority of his career in France exploring themes such as melancholy, isolation, and misery, which are among the most complex emotions to unpack.
Georgia O’Keeffe was among the greatest painters whose semi-abstract paintings of still-lifes and large-scale close-ups of flowers made her one of the most unique artists at the time.
Rothko’s approach to non-objective art without the need for representation can be seen as a spiritual practice that employs the viewer to introspect upon the solid infills of color and occupation of space.
Dalí was an icon of the Surrealism movement and a renowned Spanish artist who was admired for his technical painting skills as well as complex compositions that reflected his subconscious interpretation of reality.
One cannot forget the best painter of human suffering and pain, Frida Kahlo whose many touching and symbolic paintings have become iconic representations of the complexities of human emotion in the face of love, loss, and identity.
Globally renowned for the drip technique, Pollock’s intuitive and free-flowing paintings helped alter pre-existing notions of painting and what modern art could look like.
David Hockney is perhaps one of the best British painters of the 20th century whose career in the United Kingdom was largely defined by his unique approach to British Pop art.
Ross’ intention around creating art was more focused on teaching aspiring painters how to create the most tranquil and picture-perfect landscapes while enjoying the act of painting itself.
What makes Basquiat’s work so important was that the young artist touched on subjects such as segregation and the disparity between the wealthy and the poor.