Barnett Newman

American·1905–1970

Barnett Newman

American

1905–1970

Barnett Newman (1905-1970) was an American painter who became one of the leading figures of Abstract Expressionism and a forerunner of Minimalism and Color Field painting. Born in New York to Polish-Jewish immigrants, he studied at the Art Students League and City College.

Newman's signature element is the "zip": a vertical stripe dividing fields of color. His Vir Heroicus Sublimis (1950-51) at MoMA is nearly 18 feet wide, a vast red canvas interrupted by thin vertical bands. He also created important sculptures, including the Broken Obelisk (1963-69), dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr.

Notable Works by Barnett Newman

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About Barnett Newman

Newman pioneered large color field paintings divided by vertical 'zips.' His monumental canvases and sculptural Broken Obelisk bridged Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism.

MoMA holds Vir Heroicus Sublimis. The Broken Obelisk stands outside the Rothko Chapel in Houston. The National Gallery of Art in Washington also has major works.

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