Date of Birth: March 7, 1885
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Date of Death: January 3, 1965
Biography
Milton Avery was an influential American modern painter born on March 7, 1885, in Altmar, New York. He is celebrated for his unique approach to color and form, which bridged a gap between American Impressionism and Abstract Expressionism. Avery moved to Hartford, Connecticut, with his family in 1898 and began working various jobs to support them following his father’s death. It wasn’t until he was 20 years old that he started to pursue art seriously, enrolling in classes at the Connecticut League of Art Students. Avery’s early works were influenced by American Impressionism, but he gradually developed his distinct style, characterized by simplified forms and the use of vibrant, flat colors. He moved to New York City in 1925, where he became part of the burgeoning modern art scene. His work was often supported by his wife, Sally Michel Avery, who was also an artist and illustrator. Avery’s career took off in the 1930s and 1940s, thanks to exhibitions at prestigious galleries such as the Valentine Gallery and the Phillips Collection. His friendships with artists like Mark Rothko and Adolph Gottlieb further solidified his influence on the art world. Despite suffering a heart attack in 1949, Avery continued to paint until his death on January 3, 1965, in New York City.
5 Interesting Facts about Milton Avery
1. Milton Avery was largely self-taught, having attended art school for only a short period.
2. He was a close friend and mentor to renowned abstract expressionist Mark Rothko.
3. Avery’s work is often considered a precursor to Color Field painting, a movement that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s.
4. He had a penchant for depicting everyday scenes, such as family gatherings and landscapes, in a modern, abstract style.
5. Avery’s paintings are part of the permanent collections of major institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Milton Avery
1. “Why talk when you can paint?”
2. “I always take something out of my pictures. I strip the design to essentials; the facts do not interest me as much as the essence of nature.”
3. “I try to construct a picture in which shapes, spaces, colors, form a set of unique relationships, independent of any subject matter.”
4. “I want to create a world that is purely visual, not one that relies on the narrative.”
5. “Color is the means of my strong expression, and it’s the key to my emotional response.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Milton Avery’s highest net worth is not precisely documented, but his paintings have been known to sell for over a million dollars at auctions.
Children
Milton Avery and his wife Sally Michel Avery had one daughter, March Avery, who also became an accomplished artist.
Relevant Links
1. [Milton Avery – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Avery
2. [The Phillips Collection](https://www.phillipscollection.org/milton-avery
3. [MoMA – Milton Avery](https://www.moma.org/artists/266
4. [Whitney Museum of American Art](https://whitney.org/artists/83
5. [Milton Avery at Christie’s](https://www.christies.com/en/artist/milton-avery
