Fuller Potter
Encyclopedia
Fuller Potter was an American Abstract expressionist
artist. He was born in New York City in 1910, attended St. Bernard's School in New York and Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts
, and lived most of his life in his Ledyard, Connecticut
estate, near Old Mystic. Potter started painting in the traditional modes of representation, specializing in still life and landscape. His work was shown in New York in the 1930s at the Marie Harriman Gallery (Inside NYTimes.com, May 19, 1990)
Fuller Potter spent several of his formative years painting landscapes and portraits in the Southern Appalachia region, later studying painting in Paris
with Andre Lhote from 1929 to 1931, and in New York
with Walt Kuhn and with Thomas Hart Benton
. In 1950, Potter met Jackson Pollock
and changed his mode of painting permanently to abstraction, and had a number of shows of that body of work at the Mystic Gallery in Mystic, Connecticut
. When starting his transition towards abstract painting, he combined his graphic skills with his mastery of color, and followed a path that would lead to his artistic peak, during his full abstract expressionist period. Several of his works can be seen at www.best-of-fuller-potter-paintings.comhttp://www.best-of-fuller-potter-paintings.com.
During the 1940s, Potter's work was still mostly figurative, but showed deliberate avoidance of ordinary representation. From the early 1950s on, Potter's style kept with the early works of Ad Reinhardt
and with Jackson Pollock
's 1940's pre-drip works. He painted in the 'New York School' style, along with several of his contemporaries, including Franz Kline
(1910-1962), Joan Mitchell
(1925-1992), Jean-Paul Riopelle
, William Baziotes
(1910-1963), and Jackson Pollock (1912-1956). He had a few shows in that style at several New England Art venues. The Museum of the City of New York exhibited Fuller Potter's work along with Joan Miró
and Georgia O'Keeffe
in the main lobby, in 1959.
Jeffrey Potter's To a Violent Grave, a biography of Jackson Pollock's last years, reports that Fuller Potter shared drinking sessions with Jackson Pollock in the mid-1950s. After these encounters, which occupied only a short period of his life, Fuller's work evolved towards a mature and personal form of abstraction. Potter never pursued the drip/throw action mode of abstract expressionism to any notable degree. His paint is delivered with loaded brush in hand, opulently, generously and aggressively.
Fuller Potter is considered as one of the major abstract painters of the 20th Century. He died of emphysema in May 1990 at Westerly Hospital in Westerly, Rhode Island. He was 80 years old. He is survived by three sons, Daniel Otis of Stonington, Conn., Paul, of Washington, and Benjamin C.J. of Marion, N.C.; a daughter, Mary Barton Goodman of Morristown, Tenn.; a sister, Polly Balding of Camden, S.C., and two brothers, Charles, of Chicago, and Jeffrey, of East Hampton, L.I.
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...
artist. He was born in New York City in 1910, attended St. Bernard's School in New York and Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts
Groton, Massachusetts
Groton is a town located in northwestern Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The population was 10,646 at the 2010 census. It is home to two noted prep schools: Groton School, founded in 1884, and Lawrence Academy at Groton, founded in 1793. The historic town hosts the National Shepley Hill Horse...
, and lived most of his life in his Ledyard, Connecticut
Ledyard, Connecticut
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,687 people, 5,286 households, and 4,101 families residing in the town. The population density was 385.1 people per square mile . There were 5,486 housing units at an average density of 143.8 per square mile...
estate, near Old Mystic. Potter started painting in the traditional modes of representation, specializing in still life and landscape. His work was shown in New York in the 1930s at the Marie Harriman Gallery (Inside NYTimes.com, May 19, 1990)
Fuller Potter spent several of his formative years painting landscapes and portraits in the Southern Appalachia region, later studying painting in 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...
with Andre Lhote from 1929 to 1931, and in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with Walt Kuhn and with Thomas Hart Benton
Thomas Hart Benton (painter)
Thomas Hart Benton was an American painter and muralist. Along with Grant Wood and John Steuart Curry, he was at the forefront of the Regionalist art movement. His fluid, almost sculpted paintings showed everyday scenes of life in the United States...
. In 1950, Potter met Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock
Paul Jackson Pollock , known as Jackson Pollock, was an influential American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. During his lifetime, Pollock enjoyed considerable fame and notoriety. He was regarded as a mostly reclusive artist. He had a volatile personality, and...
and changed his mode of painting permanently to abstraction, and had a number of shows of that body of work at the Mystic Gallery in Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic is a village and census-designated place in New London County, Connecticut, in the United States. The population was 4,001 at the 2000 census. A historic locality, Mystic has no independent government because it is not a legally recognized municipality in the state of Connecticut...
. When starting his transition towards abstract painting, he combined his graphic skills with his mastery of color, and followed a path that would lead to his artistic peak, during his full abstract expressionist period. Several of his works can be seen at www.best-of-fuller-potter-paintings.comhttp://www.best-of-fuller-potter-paintings.com.
During the 1940s, Potter's work was still mostly figurative, but showed deliberate avoidance of ordinary representation. From the early 1950s on, Potter's style kept with the early works of Ad Reinhardt
Ad Reinhardt
Adolph Frederick Reinhardt was an Abstract painter active in New York beginning in the 1930s and continuing through the 1960s. He was a member of the American Abstract Artists and was a part of the movement centered around the Betty Parsons Gallery that became known as Abstract Expressionism...
and with Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock
Paul Jackson Pollock , known as Jackson Pollock, was an influential American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. During his lifetime, Pollock enjoyed considerable fame and notoriety. He was regarded as a mostly reclusive artist. He had a volatile personality, and...
's 1940's pre-drip works. He painted in the 'New York School' style, along with several of his contemporaries, including Franz Kline
Franz Kline
Franz Jozef Kline was an American painter mainly associated with the Abstract Expressionist movement centered around New York in the 1940s and 1950s. He was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and attended Girard College, an academy in Philadelphia for fatherless boys...
(1910-1962), Joan Mitchell
Joan Mitchell
Joan Mitchell was a "second generation" abstract expressionist painter. She was an essential member of the American Abstract expressionist movement, even though much of her career took place in France. Along with Lee Krasner, Grace Hartigan, and Helen Frankenthaler she was one of her era's few...
(1925-1992), Jean-Paul Riopelle
Jean-Paul Riopelle
Jean-Paul Riopelle, was a painter and sculptor from Quebec, Canada.-Biography:Born in Montreal, he studied under Paul-Émile Borduas in the 1940s and was a member of Les Automatistes movement. He was one of the signers of the Refus global manifesto...
, William Baziotes
William Baziotes
William Baziotes was an American painter influenced by Surrealism and was a contributor to Abstract Expressionism.-Life and career:...
(1910-1963), and Jackson Pollock (1912-1956). He had a few shows in that style at several New England Art venues. The Museum of the City of New York exhibited Fuller Potter's work along with Joan Miró
Joan Miró
Joan Miró i Ferrà was a Spanish Catalan painter, sculptor, and ceramicist born in Barcelona.Earning international acclaim, his work has been interpreted as Surrealism, a sandbox for the subconscious mind, a re-creation of the childlike, and a manifestation of Catalan pride...
and Georgia O'Keeffe
Georgia O'Keeffe
Georgia Totto O'Keeffe was an American artist.Born near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, O'Keeffe first came to the attention of the New York art community in 1916, several decades before women had gained access to art training in America’s colleges and universities, and before any of its women artists...
in the main lobby, in 1959.
Jeffrey Potter's To a Violent Grave, a biography of Jackson Pollock's last years, reports that Fuller Potter shared drinking sessions with Jackson Pollock in the mid-1950s. After these encounters, which occupied only a short period of his life, Fuller's work evolved towards a mature and personal form of abstraction. Potter never pursued the drip/throw action mode of abstract expressionism to any notable degree. His paint is delivered with loaded brush in hand, opulently, generously and aggressively.
Fuller Potter is considered as one of the major abstract painters of the 20th Century. He died of emphysema in May 1990 at Westerly Hospital in Westerly, Rhode Island. He was 80 years old. He is survived by three sons, Daniel Otis of Stonington, Conn., Paul, of Washington, and Benjamin C.J. of Marion, N.C.; a daughter, Mary Barton Goodman of Morristown, Tenn.; a sister, Polly Balding of Camden, S.C., and two brothers, Charles, of Chicago, and Jeffrey, of East Hampton, L.I.