Listed below are the key artists that contributed to the movement. Artists include Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, Lee Krasner, Robert Motherwell, Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, and Clyfford Still. Pollock is considered to be the movement's leader after he created “drip painting.”
Known as the leader in this movement. His painting style is the prime example of “action painting” which defined this movement. Pollock created large scale abstract “drip paintings” that enveloped the viewer to create an experience.
Kline was a pioneer of Abstract Expressionism whose work was inspired by Japanese calligraphy. It was Kline’s black and white abstract paintings that inspired the artists who created Minimalism.
Kooning was one of the first Abstract Expressionist painters. His abstract compositions were inspired by Surrealist art and led to the ‘gestural’ style of painting in the New York School.
Krasner was a female abstract painter and one of the more prominent founders of the movement. Her work inspired Color Field artists.
Motherwell and one of the founders of the movement. He was among the first American artists to develop accidental elements in his work.
Newman painted large‐scale fields of solid color, interrupted by vertical lines or “zips.” His narrow canvases, part painting and part sculpture, influenced Minimalism artists.
Rothko produced works featuring large blocks of layered color on colored backgrounds.
Still was a founder and leader in the movement. His large‐scale paintings were filled with stains of dark earth colors.