b. Pennsylvania 1910

d. New York 1962

Abstract Expressionist Franz Kline is known for his large black-and-white paintings that treat the medium of oil with a calligraphic freedom, influenced by his acquaintance with Willem de Kooning. Kline viewed his gestural painting not as an expression of his emotions but as a means to create a physical form and presence that could be felt by the viewer, and would inspire Minimalist sculptors like Donald Judd and Richard Serra with his reluctance to attribute hidden meanings to his work. Starting in the late 1950s, Kline executed a series of monumental works, known as the "wall paintings," and began to reintroduce color to his black-and-white palette. Kline’s works can be found in several public collections around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles), Tate Modern (London) and the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York).

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