Considered one of the preeminent colorists of the twentieth century, Milton Avery (1885 – 1965) bridged the gap between American realism and abstract expressionism, a testament to his independent creative vision. Inspired by European modernism, Avery’s landscapes, portraits, and interiors feature simplified forms structured by bold, chromatic harmonies. As the years progressed, he eliminated extraneous detail from his compositions, thinning oil paint with turpentine to achieve unmodulated, luminous fields of color. However, he never severed his connection with the observable world, stating, “I am not seeking pure abstraction; rather, the purity and essence of the idea–expressed in its simplest form.”
Source: DC Moore Gallery
