Galerie Stein Magazine

Meighan Morrison Bridgeport, CT, US  A true creative, Meighan Morrison has studied art at various art institutions across the US and held a variety of creative careers, including a textile designer and children's book author and illustrator. She credits this diverse background with informing her gorgeous abstract expressionist paintings.  By contemporary abstract expressionist artist, Meighan Morrison. According to Meighan, the intersection of opposites, of binary elements, is the heart of her abstract expressionist paintings. This is evident in her work where, for...

I talk a lot about abstract art here, especially Abstract Expressionism, so I thought I'd get back to the basics with a definition of abstract art. So, what is abstract art? Well, simply put, it's a genre of visual art that emphasizes shapes, colors, forms, and gestural marks over realistic depiction. Unlike representational art, which portrays recognizable objects or scenes, abstract art focuses on elements of art itself—such as line, shape, texture, and color—to convey emotions,...

Abstract line art is a form of artistic expression that uses lines, shapes, and patterns to create compositions that are open to interpretation. In this genre, artists often explore the fundamental qualities of line and form. This allows the artist to focus on the essence of their subject rather than its actual representation. Left: 'Seated nude' by Pablo Picasso, 1909-10. Right: 'Bottle and fishes' by Georges Braque, 1910-12. The history of abstract line art traces back to early 20th-century art...

Christy Hopkins  Seattle, USA Raised in Southern California in a creative family, Christy Hopkins began painting in her 20s. I first came across Christy's creative practice a few years ago in videos of her dancing and painting. Her energy is contagious and the vibrant life expressed in her paintings do it justice. Christy paints intuitively, like most great Abstract Expressionists, letting each moment guide her. She paints in layers with brushstrokes that match the rhythms of music. Her...

Taher Jaoui  Dubai, UAE Artist and mathematician Taher Jaoui was born in Tunis and studied sciences at the Sorbonne in Paris. That was before he became an artist. Without a formal art education, Taher pulls from a diverse mix of influences—African primitive art, graffiti, glitch art, the COBRA movement, and of course Abstract Expressionism.  With the declared goal of continuing the legacy of the postwar Abstract Expressionist movement, Taher creates large paintings with expressive gestural brushstrokes...

David Fredrik Moussallem  Toronto, Canada Although David Fredrik's art is not technically Abstract Expressionism, I still love it. David's art can be classified as "post-graffiti" (which is a style that I'll write about in the future)—deconstructed collage paintings with obvious influences from his appreciation of global subcultures and street art.  David's paintings have that distressed city wall look, layered with old posters and graffiti, onto which he blends calligraphy and blurred color fields. He carves into these mixed media surfaces,...

Laurent Dorchin  France The term "art brut" or outsider art (coined by artist/writer Jean Dubuffet) describes the raw and unfiltered creations of artists without formal training. Inspired by the unbridled creativity of psychiatric patients, Dubuffet celebrated the uninhibited expression of isolated creators. Following in this tradition, self-taught French artist Laurent Dorchin embraces spontaneity and joy in his work. When Laurent was 17, he fell in love with the expressionist art of French painter Ramon Grimalt whose paintings showcase...

Dina Roudman  Toronto, Canada Although growing up as a visual artist, Abstract Expressionist artist Dina Roudman temporarily left that world for 12 years to pursue other modes of expression—modelling, acting. Now, after just a few years back in the world of visual art, I’d say she’s in her element. I especially love her large paintings, which are colorful with expressive brushstrokes, both big and small, and always full of energy. Dina celebrates the fact that she...

The Abstract Expressionist movement has produced some of the most coveted artworks in the world. Among these masterpieces, a select few have achieved extraordinary prices, which reflects their significance in the art world.Jackson Pollock's "Number 17A," a quintessential example of his iconic drip technique, holds the record for the highest price paid for an Abstract Expressionist painting, fetching an astounding $200 million in 2015. This dynamic composition captivates viewers with its intricate web of paint, embodying...

Abstract Expressionist artist Norman Lewis (1909–1979) was a pioneering figure in the movement who challenged racial stereotypes and pushed the boundaries of abstract art. Born in Harlem, Lewis first painted in the style of Social Realism, in which he depicted vibrant scenes from the Harlem Renaissance and later the social struggles of the 1930s. In 1937, he was hired by the Federal Art Project (part of FDR's Works Progress Administration) and was tasked with creating figurative Social Realist depictions of the Great Depression...

In many ways, the post-World War II Abstract Expressionist movement paralleled the philosophy of existentialism. The brutal and devastating realities of the war produced for many a profound sense of disillusionment. For some, this resulted in a worldview that emphasized the inherent absurdity of human existence. At its core, existentialism posited that individuals are responsible for creating their own meaning and purpose in what had become a seemingly indifferent universe. By Jackson Pollock, 1952. Abstract Expressionist artists (like Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, etc.) embraced...

Peter Musami Harare, Zimbabwe Peter Musami, an Abstract Expressionist artist from Harare, Zimbabwe, graduated from the National Gallery of Zimbabwe School of Visual Arts and Design. Peter's work, as he explains, focuses on healing and restoration, particularly in relation to the gender divide. 'Biri naGanyire I' by Peter Musami. Influenced by nature, contemporary affairs, societal culture, and music, Peter's Abstract Expressionist paintings showcase a vibrant color palette and intricate shades of bold lines. His expressive creative...