Abstract expressionism, the movement of abstract painting that emerged in New York City during the mid-1940s and attained singular prominence in American art in the following decade, was the first important school in American painting to influence the development of art abroad and the many varieties of work that followed it - especially in the way its proponents used color and materials. Its essential energy transmitted an enduring excitement to the American art scene.

The German expatriate and abstract expressionist Hans Hofmann (1880–1966) became the most influential teacher of modern art in the United States. In this lecture, Robert Henry - who was a student of Hofmann in the 1950s- will discuss Hofmann’s art and his approach to teaching. Works from the PAAM collection will be utilized to illuminate the diverse stylistic range found in abstract expressionism, and to illustrate the varied output and creative legacy of Hofmann’s students.