Al Held
Encyclopedia
Al Held was an American
Abstract expressionist
painter
. He was particularly well known for his large scale Hard-edge painting
s.
, New York
in 1928, Held showed no interest in art until leaving the Navy
in 1947. Inspired by his friend Nicholas Krushenick
, Held enrolled in the Art Students League of New York
. In 1949, using the support of the G.I. Bill, he went to Paris
for three years, to study at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière
. He returned to New York in 1953, to struggle with his work for several years.
in 1959, Held's large-scale paintings of colourful, simple abstract
geometric forms gained increasing recognition in America and Europe. In 1962, he was appointed to the Yale University
Faculty Of Art (where he would teach until 1980). In 1965, the critic Irving Sandler
curated the critically acclaimed Concrete Expressionism show at New York University
featuring the work of painters Al Held and Knox Martin
and the sculptors Ronald Bladen, George Sugarman
and David Weinrib.
In 1966, Held was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship
and received the Logan Medal of the arts
. Feeling that he'd reached the end of his style's potential, he shifted in 1967 to black and white images that dealt with challenging perspectives and "spatial conundrums". Some critics dismissed this work as simply disorienting; others declared it Held's finest achievement to date. By the late 1970s, he had re-introduced colour to his work.
In his later years, Held earned commission
s of up to one million dollars. In 2005, he completed a large, colourful mural
in the New York City Subway
system, at East 53rd Street and Lexington.
At age 76, Held was found dead in his villa
swimming pool
near Camerata, Italy
, on July 27, 2005. It is believed he died of natural causes.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Abstract expressionist
Abstract expressionism
Abstract expressionism was an American post–World War II art movement. It was the first specifically American movement to achieve worldwide influence and put New York City at the center of the western art world, a role formerly filled by Paris...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. He was particularly well known for his large scale Hard-edge painting
Hard-edge painting
Hard-edge painting is painting in which abrupt transitions are found between color areas. Color areas are often of one unvarying color. The Hard-edge painting style is related to Geometric abstraction, Op Art, Post-painterly Abstraction, and Color Field painting.-History of the term:The term was...
s.
Background and education
Born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1928, Held showed no interest in art until leaving the Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
in 1947. Inspired by his friend Nicholas Krushenick
Nicholas Krushenick
Nicholas Krushenick was one of the forerunners of the pop art movement.Krushenick began showing his work publicly in New York in 1957, at the age of 28...
, Held enrolled in the Art Students League of New York
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
. In 1949, using the support of the G.I. Bill, he went to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for three years, to study at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière
Académie de la Grande Chaumière
The Académie de la Grande Chaumière is an art school in the VIe arrondissement of Paris, France. The school was founded in 1902 by the Swiss Martha Stettler , who refused to teach the strict academic rules of painting of the École des Beaux-Arts. It opened the way to the "Art Indépendant"...
. He returned to New York in 1953, to struggle with his work for several years.
Career
After his first solo Abstract expressionist exhibitionArt exhibition
Art exhibitions are traditionally the space in which art objects meet an audience. The exhibit is universally understood to be for some temporary period unless, as is rarely true, it is stated to be a "permanent exhibition". In American English, they may be called "exhibit", "exposition" or...
in 1959, Held's large-scale paintings of colourful, simple abstract
Abstract art
Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an...
geometric forms gained increasing recognition in America and Europe. In 1962, he was appointed to the Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
Faculty Of Art (where he would teach until 1980). In 1965, the critic Irving Sandler
Irving Sandler
Irving Sandler is an American art critic and educator. He has provided numerous first hand accounts of American art, particularly around the abstract expressionist circles of the 1950s, where he managed the Downtown Tanager Gallery and co-ordinated the New York artists' 'Club' from 1955 to its...
curated the critically acclaimed Concrete Expressionism show at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
featuring the work of painters Al Held and Knox Martin
Knox Martin
Knox Martin is an American painter, sculptor and muralist.Born in 1923 in Barranquilla, Colombia, he studied at the Art Students League of New York from 1946 till 1950. He is one of the leading members of New York School - a group of artists and writers. He lives and works in New York City."Art is...
and the sculptors Ronald Bladen, George Sugarman
George Sugarman
George Sugarman was an American artist working in the mediums of drawing, painting, and sculpture. Often described as controversial and forward-thinking, Sugarman's prolific body of work defies a definitive style. He pioneered the concepts of pedestal-free sculpture and is best known for his...
and David Weinrib.
In 1966, Held was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
and received the Logan Medal of the arts
Logan Medal of the arts
The Logan Medal of the Arts was an arts prize initiated in 1907 and associated with the Art Institute of Chicago. From 1917 through 1940, 270 awards were given....
. Feeling that he'd reached the end of his style's potential, he shifted in 1967 to black and white images that dealt with challenging perspectives and "spatial conundrums". Some critics dismissed this work as simply disorienting; others declared it Held's finest achievement to date. By the late 1970s, he had re-introduced colour to his work.
In his later years, Held earned commission
Commission (remuneration)
The payment of commission as remuneration for services rendered or products sold is a common way to reward sales people. Payments often will be calculated on the basis of a percentage of the goods sold...
s of up to one million dollars. In 2005, he completed a large, colourful mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
in the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
system, at East 53rd Street and Lexington.
At age 76, Held was found dead in his villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
near Camerata, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, on July 27, 2005. It is believed he died of natural causes.
Books
- Irving Sandler, From Avant-Garde to Pluralism: An On-The-Spot History, (Hard Press Editions, 2006.) ISBN 1-889097-68-3