Galerie Stein Magazine

Afro Libio Basaldella, known mostly as just Afro, isn't usually among the names commonly listed in the postwar Abstract Expressionist movement, but I'm fond of his work. One reason he's not usually mentioned is that he was Italian, not American. Basaldella was born in Udine in 1912 and only arrived in New York in 1950.  By Afro Libio Basaldella. Before New York, Afro embraced various styles, and his evolution as a painter was marked by realism, cubism, and finally Abstract Expressionism....

Sophie CrichtonBarcelona, Spain Sophie Crichton, originally from Toronto, currently lives and paints in Barcelona. Crichton caught our attention with a distinctive urban feel to her abstract expressionist paintings that hint at graffiti, tangled wires, posters on walls, and the vibrant life of street culture.  Characterized by bright colors, layers, and expressive lines, Sophie's layers of large gestural lines and spray paint contrast with detailed mark-making. Sometimes she includes symbols and popular iconography, which is not my favorite...

Lori MirabelliAlmonte, ON, Canada Lori Mirabelli has a degree in psychology and worked for decades in child welfare, all the while doing art on the side. Now painting full-time, she lives and creates in a log house in Ontario, Canada.  Lori's paintings reveal a unique and somewhat whimsical style that I appreciate. I also love her color palettes that usually favor vivid and contrasting colors. Each of her paintings are distinct, but they all feature bold lines, shapes, and a beautifully balanced use of...

Book: Gabriel, Mary. (2018). Ninth Street Women: Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler: Five Painters and the Movement That Changed Modern Art. Little, Brown and Company. I read this book a while ago during the pandemic, but its stories have stayed with me. The book steps into the colorful and dynamic world of mid-20th century New York City, to the heart of the postwar Abstract Expressionism movement. It's a riveting journey through...

Sami KorkiakoskiFinland Sami Korkiakoski has an MA from the University of Art and Design Helsinki (2007) and an MFA from the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts Helsinki (2013). He creates large-scale, colorful, and energetic Abstract Expressionist paintings. Untitled by Sami Korkiakoski. I first found Sami on Instagram where he sometimes posts videos of his frenetic painting process. This is what struck me most about Sami's work—the central role played by energy and movement. Witnessing the fast-pace of his creative process is mesmerizing—he paints with both spray and brush simultaneously, using both...

Tu HongtaoChengdu, China I invite you to enter the mesmerizing world of Chinese painter Tu Hongtao, whose art truly transcends boundaries. Born in 1976 in Chengdu, Hongtao studied oil painting at the China Academy of Art, Hangzhou. His abstract works infuse the dynamism of Chinese calligraphy with postwar abstraction, and they take me on a journey through space and time, both real and imagined. 'The Corrupted Garden of Eden' by Tu Hongtao.In Hongtao's sweeping compositions, I see gestural hints of Cy...

Julia MannMainz, Germany German artist Julia Mann's paintings are a great contribution to the contemporary world of Abstract Expressionism. Encouraged and instructed by her mother, an expert of Abstract Expressionism, Julia's art effectively expresses raw emotion and introspection. Each of her paintings consists of a fusion of bold strokes, rich textures, and vivid colors. Although there seems to be a moodiness to her work, her canvases nonetheless seem to pulsate with an energy that invites me into a world where my subconscious is called to center stage. 'Soft...

Samuel KizzaKampala, Uganda (Guest post by Galerie Stein's featured artist, Beth W. Stewart) I started painting while doing research in Uganda. For eight years, I travelled back and forth between Canada and Uganda, even living in Gulu (northern Uganda) for a while with my three kids and their father. I have consequently always been on the lookout for Ugandan abstract artists. There are artists across the continent creating beautiful and unique paintings, but they sadly don't get much attention in...

Svetlana NinkovićBelgrade, Serbia I came across Serbian Abstract Expressionist artist Svetlana Ninković on Instagram, where she showcases her large, bold, and vivid paintings. When I set out to write this blog post about her, I discovered that there is an unusual absence of information online about her.  By Svetlana Ninkovic. What I know is that she's from Belgrade and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Novi Sad, Serbia, where she majored in graphics. She paints large-scale using bring colors and expressive gestures,...

As an enthusiast of Abstract Expressionism, I'm intrigued by the profound impact painter and teacher Hans Hofmann had on the movement. Hofmann was born in Germany in 1880 and emigrated to the US in 1932. He was initially active in European avant-guard but ended up as a central figure in Abstract Expressionism movements, ultimately helping to reshape the landscape of American modern art. 'Summer Summit' by Hans Hofmann, 1962.As a painter, he didn't seem to fully embrace the free expression of...

Book: Batchelor, D. (2000). Chromophobia. Reaktion Books. As a passionate enthusiast of art and literature, I recently embarked on a captivating journey through artist/author David Batchelor's Chromophobia. This thought-provoking book dives deep into Western society's curious fear of color, offering a compelling thesis that might resonate with other lovers of Abstract Expressionism. Batchelor's research and analysis shed light on the socio-historical roots of chromophobia, unraveling its complex layers and implications. I found myself drawn into a fascinating discourse that...

Daniela SchweinsbergFrankfurt, GermanyIn the dynamic world of abstract art, Daniela Schweinsberg, captivates with her bold paintings that seem alive with raw emotion, vibrant colors, and energetic brushstrokes. 'Rough Red' by Daniela Schweinsberg. Daniela uses diverse media, such as oils, acrylics, and natural materials, and her intuitive process weaves powerful, layered narratives. I see a lot of emotion in her work and find influences of Abstract Expressionists like Cy Twombly, Joan Mitchell, and Georges Mathieu.  'Rough Black II' by Daniela Schweinsberg. Daniela's art,...