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American Modernism is a unique lens through which a collector can explore myriad movements and styles—from Cubism to Surrealism and beyond. Discover the breadth and historical significance of this category with these colorful, energetic Modernist paintings by some of America’s leading masters.

An Iconic Influence
Spanning the gap between Matisse’s vivaciously outlined canvases and the American color field artists of the 1950s, Avery’s work fuses large planes of color with an interest in abstraction that developed over the course of his life. With this painting’s dramatic expanse of blue, his influence on artists such as Gottlieb and Rothko is easily seen.

A Man of Many Talents
The great-grandson of a glassmaker, Gallatin was an avid art collector, critic, co-founder of New York University and director of the first American museum devoted exclusively to modern art. His work as an artist was heavily influenced by his own collection, which included works by Picasso and Léger. The provenance of this work traces back directly to the artist, as is the case with all three Gallatin paintings being offered in this sale.

Encountering the Sublime
Garman’s early study of theater design nourished an appreciation of spatial elements—the same compositional framework that can be found in many of his works. In an interview with the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, Garman described the process of painting as “going to sleep in a sublime sort of way,” and the simple geometric elements seen in this work demonstrate his desire to create environments that surpass the noise and disquietude of everyday life.