Helen Frankenthaler

Date of Birth: December 12, 1928

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: December 27, 2011

Biography

Helen Frankenthaler was an influential American abstract expressionist painter, born on December 12, 1928, in New York City. She is widely known for her pioneering “soak-stain” technique, which involved pouring thinned paint onto raw canvas, allowing the colors to soak into the fabric, creating a luminous and fluid effect. This technique was instrumental in the development of the Color Field movement, a style of abstract painting that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s. Frankenthaler was educated at the Dalton School and Bennington College, where she studied under Paul Feeley. She was deeply influenced by the work of Jackson Pollock and Hans Hofmann, and she quickly rose to prominence in the New York art scene. Her breakthrough came in 1952 with her painting “Mountains and Sea,” which showcased her innovative use of color and form. Throughout her career, Frankenthaler experimented with various media, including printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture. Her work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Gallery in London. Frankenthaler received numerous awards and honors, including the National Medal of Arts in 2001. Helen Frankenthaler passed away on December 27, 2011, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to inspire artists and art lovers alike.

5 Interesting Facts about Helen Frankenthaler

1. Helen Frankenthaler was a key figure in the postwar American art movement and helped bridge the gap between Abstract Expressionism and Color Field painting.

2. Her 1952 painting “Mountains and Sea” is considered one of the most iconic works of American art, despite being created when she was just 23 years old.

3. Frankenthaler was married to fellow artist Robert Motherwell from 1958 to 1971, creating a powerful artistic duo known as “the golden couple” of the art world.

4. She was a prolific printmaker and innovated several techniques in woodcut, etching, and lithography, pushing the boundaries of these mediums.

5. Frankenthaler was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George W. Bush in 2001 for her contributions to American art.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Helen Frankenthaler

1. “A really good picture looks as if it’s happened at once. It’s an immediate image.”

2. “There are no rules. That is how art is born, how breakthroughs happen. Go against the rules or ignore the rules. That is what invention is about.”

3. “What concerns me when I work is not whether the picture is a landscape or whether it’s pastoral or whether it’s a still life. I simply want to make a beautiful picture.”

4. “Every canvas is a journey all its own.”

5. “The landscapes were in my arms as I did it.”