Richard Pousette- Dart Original Vintage New York American Abstract Expressionist School Founder Art Oil Painting
Original early vintage New York abstract expressionist oil painting, by Richard Pousette-Dart, (1916-1992).
Richard Warren Pousette-Dart (June 8, 1916 – October 25, 1992) was an influential American abstract expressionist artist and a founding figure of the New York School of Painting. Renowned for his bold experimentation across media, Pousette-Dart’s work spanned painting, drawing, sculpture, and fine art photography, and his deeply spiritual approach to art set him apart from many of his contemporaries.
Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Pousette-Dart moved with his family to Valhalla, New York, in 1918. His artistic journey began early, influenced by his parents: his mother, Flora Louise Pousette-Dart, a poet and musician, and his father, Nathaniel J. Pousette-Dart, a painter, educator, and art writer. By age eight, Richard was actively painting and drawing. A fascination with abstraction marked his formative years, evident in a high school paper where he declared, “The greater the work of art, the more abstract and impersonal it is.”
He briefly attended Bard College in 1936 but left after one semester to pursue art independently. Early in his career, he worked as an assistant to sculptor Paul Manship and in photographic retouching, developing skills that would inform his later artistic innovations.
In 1941, Pousette-Dart had his first solo exhibition at the Artists’ Gallery in New York. That same year, he completed Symphony No. 1, The Transcendental, a monumental work regarded as the first mural-sized painting of the New York School, influencing contemporaries like Jackson Pollock and Arshile Gorky. Throughout the 1940s, Pousette-Dart exhibited at prestigious venues such as Peggy Guggenheim’s Art of This Century and joined the Betty Parsons Gallery, becoming part of a roster that included Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, and Pollock.
As an educator, Pousette-Dart inspired generations of artists. He taught at institutions such as Columbia University, the New School for Social Research, and the Art Students League. Notable students included Saul Leiter, Ai Weiwei, Zhang Hongtu, and Christopher Wool. Known for his non-dogmatic teaching style, he encouraged students to develop their unique artistic voices.
The Youngest of the New York Expressionism First Generation of artists, Richard Pousette-Dart’s work has been celebrated in major retrospectives, including a 1963 exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art and a comprehensive 1990 show at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Posthumous exhibitions have further cemented his legacy, including a 1997 retrospective at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and a 2007 show at the Guggenheim Museum.
Pousette-Dart’s art is recognized for its meditative depth, described as a fusion of art and spirituality. His belief that “art is the life of the soul” resonates through his body of work.
In 2013, the Richard Pousette-Dart Foundation was established to preserve his legacy, and in 2019, his home and studio were added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
This painting embodies many qualities associated with Pousette-Dart’s early Abstract Expressionist period: an emphasis on spiritual symbolism, complex and textured forms, a vibrant yet thoughtful color scheme, and a focus on light and form as a means of inner exploration. This painting captures a meditative energy, drawing viewers into a contemplative visual experience. The piece employs a vibrant yet nuanced palette, with earthy yellows, deep greens, and muted blues, giving it an organic feel. This rich, prismatic use of gem-like color was typical of Pousette-Dart’s works in the 1950s. The colors blend into one another, adding depth and dimensionality, which aligns with his approach to color as a spiritual and expressive tool.
The artwork captures a sense of light and shadow through its composition and color variations, creating a luminous effect. This treatment of light as both a physical and symbolic element reflects Pousette-Dart’s tendency to explore luminosity and inner radiance, which he believed added a spiritual dimension to the artwork.
There is a visible textural quality, with thicker areas of paint that create a sculptural effect on the surface. Pousette-Dart often utilized impasto and textured brushwork to lend his compositions a physical presence. This technique creates a tactile surface that draws the viewer in, much like the physicality present in his other works.
The painting shows a collection of swirling, interlocking forms and energetic lines, which are reminiscent of Pousette-Dart's interest in symbolic and organic abstraction. The forms appear to move rhythmically, conveying a sense of dynamism and vitality. This complexity of layered shapes reflects Pousette-Dart’s interest in conveying archetypal and mystical forms through abstract language.
Richard Pousette-Dart
(1916-1992)
New York
Founder of American Abstract Expressionism School of Art
Signed Lower Right
Untitled Composition
Estimated year of creation, approximately 1953, when the artist resided and exhibited, in New York, NY
Oil on Canvas, Framed (Original vintage frame) There is a date of July 24th, written on reverse.
Approximately 18"X36", Plus Frame
The painting is in very good condition. There are some very light marks/shadows from the thickness of the paint/age. The paint is in stable condition. There have been no overpaints, restoration, or chemical cleanings.
Contact Us: pacificfineart@gmail.com Ph: 424-259-3290