American, b. 1915, Aberdeen, Washington — d. 1991, Provincetown, Massachusetts

Robert Motherwell was an American Abstract Expressionist painter, active also as editor, writer and teacher. Influenced by the automatism put forth by Surrealism, Motherwell’s paintings are characterized by their impulsive, intuitive approach. He is perhaps best known for his iconic Elegy to the Spanish Republic series, where he painted over 150 variants of large black forms onto white backgrounds. His paintings, prints and collages are constructed of simple shapes, bold color contrasts and a dynamic balance between restrained and boldly gestural brushstrokes.

Robert Motherwell has been exhibited and his works collected by most premier art museums around the world.