cranbrookman
Mary Abbott
Untitled (1951)
Oil and oil stick on paper mounted to canvas
24.5 x w: 31.2 in
Abbott was born in New York and she was brought up there as well as Washington, D.C. Her great, great....great grandfather was John Adams, the second president of the United States. Brought up in a political, wealthy family Mary had no inclination to follow in those footsteps. By 1938 she was taking advanced courses at the Art Students League where one of her teachers was George Grosz. Mary was also part of New York's Society scene and Vogue approached her which led her to a part time career as a professional model. In 1946 when Abbott left her first husband she rented a cold water flat across the street from David Hare. At this time she began to seriously explore issues of modern art and Hare helped foster those experiments and he brought her to The Subjects of the Artist school. As a student Abbott was placed at the heart of the abstract expressionist painting movement. She flourished as an abstract painter encouraged by her teachers Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman. She was also influenced by Willem de Kooning and the two formed a close friendship and love affair that lasted for decades. In the early 1950s Mary was introduced for membership in the Artist's Club by Phillip Pavia and she became one of the few women members, along with Elaine de Kooning and Perle Fine. Mary also bought a home in Southampton but she always kept a studio in the city.
Photo and biographical information courtesy of Thomas McCormick Gallery, Chicago.
Read more biographical information at :
Mary Abbott
Untitled (1951)
Oil and oil stick on paper mounted to canvas
24.5 x w: 31.2 in
Abbott was born in New York and she was brought up there as well as Washington, D.C. Her great, great....great grandfather was John Adams, the second president of the United States. Brought up in a political, wealthy family Mary had no inclination to follow in those footsteps. By 1938 she was taking advanced courses at the Art Students League where one of her teachers was George Grosz. Mary was also part of New York's Society scene and Vogue approached her which led her to a part time career as a professional model. In 1946 when Abbott left her first husband she rented a cold water flat across the street from David Hare. At this time she began to seriously explore issues of modern art and Hare helped foster those experiments and he brought her to The Subjects of the Artist school. As a student Abbott was placed at the heart of the abstract expressionist painting movement. She flourished as an abstract painter encouraged by her teachers Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman. She was also influenced by Willem de Kooning and the two formed a close friendship and love affair that lasted for decades. In the early 1950s Mary was introduced for membership in the Artist's Club by Phillip Pavia and she became one of the few women members, along with Elaine de Kooning and Perle Fine. Mary also bought a home in Southampton but she always kept a studio in the city.
Photo and biographical information courtesy of Thomas McCormick Gallery, Chicago.
Read more biographical information at :