Sunday in the Art Room SITAR 7/26/26

 Welcome to 

SITAR is about ANYTHING art. Your art, someone else's art, writing, photography, the art of cooking, the art of sewing and textiles. Sharing historical art, street art, a story about art. Do you have a question or need help with art? Write a blog post and link it up here. We will all try to help with it. My only rule is that if someone asks for critique it must be done with generosity and consideration. 

This is a place of learning, encouragement and inspiration.

 

All of the art that we create today is because of artists in the past. Especially women artists who stood strong against society and their male counterparts.

 Many talented women artists of the 1950s were overlooked by mainstream history, including Lee Krasner, Carmen Herrera and Elain de Kooning. These women worked hard in movements like Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism, but, as we know, male peers and gallery owners often pushed them aside. 

 

Today, I want to focus on Lee Krasner.

 Born Oct. 27, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York. Her birth name was Lena Krassner, and she grew up as the child of Russian-Jewish immigrant parents. 

  She was married to Jackson Pollack so you would think she would have and "in" to mainstream galleries and art functions. Not so. Gallery owners and the press frequently reduced Krasner to a supportive spouse or manager rather than viewing her as a serious, independent artist. 

 

  

It's impossible to discuss Lee without addressing her marriage to Pollock. They were married for 11 years and despite Pollock's chronic depression, alcoholism and infidelity, Lee supported him and his art. Their marriage was turbulent to say the least. After yet another affair Lee left for Europe and shortly there after Pollack passed away. Lee returned to make sure Pollack's name and art was remembered as genius. Pollock died in 1956. 

 It was then that Lee was able to focus on her own art. Lee produced new series of art that were/are powerful and emotional. Yet, she struggled against widespread sexism that viewed her primarily as a grieving widow and caretaker of his legacy.

 

 

Lee finally gained major widespread recognition in the late 1970s and early 1980s, highlighted by a major 1983 retrospective at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and a major exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in late 1984 

 

In fact, Lee's art is now permanently held and displayed across at least 20 major international museums and has been featured in dozens of prominent galleries and retrospective venues worldwide. 

Original paintings by Lee generally sell for between $500,000 and $12 million at auction, depending entirely on the era, scale, and historical importance of the piece. While her market historically lagged behind her husband's her value has surged dramatically in recent years. Smaller works on paper and prints typically command much less, ranging anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000. 

Lee's story is vast and if this has peeked your interest check out these links. 

 

Nicole

 

Joining Gillena

National Museum Of Women In the Arts. 

Lee Krasner Collage Paintings 

The Pollock Krasner Foundation