The painting titled Pollination stands as a primary example of the gestural and rhythmic output produced by Lee Krasner, a Brooklyn-born artist central to the Abstract Expressionist movement. Throughout her career in New York City and East Hampton, she navigated rigorous academic training and the shifting landscapes of mid-twentieth-century modernism to establish a distinct, evolving visual language.
Academic Foundation and Modernist Shift
Krasner received her initial formal education at Washington Irving High School and the Women's Art School of Cooper Union. She continued her training at the National Academy of Design from 1928 to 1932, while briefly attending the Art Students League of New York. Exposure to the Museum of Modern Art in 1929 redirected her focus toward Post-Impressionism, moving away from conventional academic styles. Enrolling in classes with Hans Hofmann in 1937 proved transformative; his curriculum introduced her to Cubist principles, pushing her to experiment with the two-dimensional picture plane and sophisticated color theory.
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During the 1930s, economic conditions led Krasner to join the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration. As an assistant to Max Spivak in the mural division, she gained technical experience in large-scale production. While the project prioritized figurative designs accessible to the public, Krasner maintained a commitment to abstract experimentation. Her professional circle expanded significantly in the 1940s, placing her among a community of New York School practitioners, including Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko, and formal affiliations with the American Abstract Artists and The 8th Street Club.
Personal Evolution and Later Recognition
Following her 1945 marriage to Jackson Pollock, Krasner managed his estate after his 1956 death, an event that deeply marked her life. Her creative output in the subsequent decades displayed a shift toward expressive, gestural styles. In her final years, she focused on large-scale horizontal compositions characterized by hard-edge lines and vibrant palettes. The Women's Caucus for Art honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1980. After her death in 1984, she was buried at Green River Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1908, Brooklyn
- Died: 1984, New York City
- Movement: Abstract expressionism
- Notable work: Pollination
- Major influence: Hans Hofmann
- Awards: Women's Caucus for Art Lifetime Achievement Award (1980)
- Professional memberships: American Abstract Artists, The 8th Street Club
Questions readers ask
What was Lee Krasner's role in the Abstract Expressionist movement?
She was an active painter and member of the New York School, later recognized for her transition from early cubist-influenced work to large-scale, expressive abstract paintings.
Where did Lee Krasner receive her artistic training?
She studied at the Washington Irving High School, Cooper Union, the National Academy of Design, the Art Students League of New York, and under Hans Hofmann.
Achievements
- Notable work: Pollination
- Movement: abstract expressionism
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