Barnett Newman

Barnett Newman, an American painter, sculptor, and printmaker active in New York City, remains a central figure of the Abstract Expressionist movement and Color Field painting. Born in 1905, his career was marked by a shift from early expressionist works toward a signature style defined by large areas of color punctuated by distinct vertical lines known as zips.

Early Development and Writing

Newman grew up in New York City and attended the City College of New York, DeWitt Clinton High School, and the Art Students League of New York. During the 1930s, he produced paintings that he later destroyed. His early professional life included roles as a teacher, writer, and critic. He was instrumental in organizing exhibitions and drafting catalogue forewords, actively using his writing to promote his artistic philosophy and reject bourgeois social structures.

The Evolution of the Zip

Newman’s mature style emerged in the late 1940s, most notably in the Onement series. His compositions utilized vertical lines, or zips, to divide and unite large fields of color. While his canvases were often abstract, they frequently addressed specific themes, including Jewish tradition. Works such as Adam and Eve, Uriel, and Abraham—the latter named for his father—demonstrate this thematic focus. His series The Stations of the Cross, completed between 1958 and 1966, is widely considered the apex of his career and serves as a memorial to victims of the Holocaust.

Late Projects and Sculpture

In his later years, Newman explored massive scale and structural variation, as evidenced by his 28-foot-wide painting Anna’s Light and the triangular canvas Chartres. He returned to sculpture, producing sleek steel pieces and the monumental Broken Obelisk. Alongside these, he created series of lithographs and etchings, including the 18 Cantos. Newman died of a heart attack in New York City on July 4, 1970.

Fast facts

• Born: 1905, New York City
• Died: 1970, New York City
• Movement: Abstract Expressionism, Color Field
• Notable Works: Voice of Fire, Shining Forth (to George), Broken Obelisk
• Education: City College of New York, Art Students League of New York
• Buried: Montefiore Cemetery

Questions readers ask

What is a zip in Newman's art?

A zip is a thin vertical line used to define the spatial structure of his paintings, simultaneously dividing and uniting the composition.

What was the purpose of the Barnett Newman Foundation?

Founded by his widow, Annalee Newman, the foundation encourages the study of his life and works and serves as his official estate.

Achievements

• Notable work: Voice of Fire
• Notable work: Shining Forth (to George)
• Movement: abstract expressionism and Color Field