1885 - 1965
most images can be enlarged by clicking
Self-portrait
Still-life with Self-Portrait c. 1930
The son of a tanner, Avery began working at a local factory at the age of 16, and supported himself for decades with a succession of blue-collar jobs. The death of his brother-in-law in 1915 left Avery, as the sole remaining adult male in his household, responsible for the support of nine female relatives. wikipedia
1937
At the beginning of his career, when he lived in Connecticut, Milton Avery (1885-1965) was influenced by American Impressionists--Inness, Lawson and Twachtman. But when he moved to New York in 1925 he was exposed to a wider variety of contemporary work and his work became more abstract, though always remaining recognizably representational. Matisse was a strong influence on him and, in turn, his brilliance as a colorist influenced a generation of Color Field painters.
1941
Portrait of Annette Kaufman
Wife of American violinist Louis Kaufman
Annette Kaufman standing with portrait
Milton Avery brought together simple, spare forms and harmonious colors to build patterns of flat, interlocking shapes reminiscent of French artist Henri Matisse. He frequently depicted family, friends and the familiar landscapes, simplifying and refining the imagery into strong formal patterns.
Black Chemise
1946
The Group (After Dinner Coffee)
1939
1956
The Three Graces
1939
Sally Avery
(the artist's wife)
Early in his career his work was considered too radical for being too abstract; when Abstract Expressionism
became dominant his work was overlooked, as being too representational.
Sketching by the Sea
1944
1944
"Nature is my springboard. From her I get my initial impetus. I have tried to relate the visible drama of mountains, trees, and bleached fields with the fantasy of wind blowing and changing colors and forms." ~ Milton Avery
Salmon River
1956
Girl in a Blue Nighgown
(Sara, the artist's daughter)
Susan Stamberg describes the works as abstract but accessible. "The paintings of Milton Avery are rooted in home and hearth," she says. "He was a very personal painter. A painter of the familiar -- his family, his studio, a seascape he loved. And friends" NPR -"Discovering Milton Avery"
1945
1946
Self-Portrait
watercolor
1959
Birds and Sea
woodblock print
1969
Chinese Checkers
Baby
1944
Although never associated with a particular movement, Avery was a key modernist who influenced succeeding generations of artists including Color Field painters Mark Rothko.
Resources:
by clicking on the image above, you can check thumbnail versions of more rare works by Avery, that are protected by copyright laws
Art Net
The Archive
abstract-art.com
NPR online "Discovering Milton Avery
D.C. Moore Gallery
