nicolas party | milton avery and his influence on contemporary art
Considered one of America’s greatest 20th Century colourists; the New York Times wrote ‘Only Matisse – to whose art he owed much, of course – produced a greater achievement in this respect’, milton avery’s career fell between two movements, American Impressionism and Abstract Expressionism. Avery navigated an independent course through these two American movements – with his work increasingly moving towards harmonious colours and simplified forms. These qualities were famously a source of inspiration to a younger generation of painters during his lifetime, that included Mark Rothko, Barnet Newman and Adolph Gottlieb.
Occupying all the gallery spaces, this exhibition will interrogate Avery’s enduring position as ‘an artist’s artist’, a description given to him by the American art historian Dore Ashton. For the first time a survey of Avery’s paintings from across the decades of his career will be seen alongside work by a selected number of celebrated contemporary artists which will include amongst others Harold Ancart, March Avery, Gary Hume and Nicolas Party, all of whom have been influenced by Avery’s compositions and unique approach to colour. This grouping will be a captivating study of how contemporary art remains rooted in Modernism and introduces the museum’s regular engagement in examining art history and its connection to contemporary practice.