Lee Krasner

After the death of her husband Jackson Pollock, Krasner took over his studio located in a barn on their property. With this expansion of studio space, she began creating large-scale paintings like Celebration,using expansive gestures to express her feelings on canvas.

An abstract oil painting with energetic brushstrokes in colors of black, red, orange, green, and white. The brushstrokes overlap in both flowy and jagged motions.

Imagine the wide, sweeping movements of Lee Krasner's arm as she painted the broad and turbulent strokes across this enormous canvas. The energy and physicality required to paint in such a style led many Abstract Expressionists, including Krasner, to be known as "Action Painters."

Action Painters

Beneath Celebration is a painting that was part of Krasner's earlier series, "Earth Green." The series was created shortly after the death of her husband, Jackson Pollock, whose career often overshadowed Krasner's throughout their rocky marriage.

Earth Green

The size of this painting is a contrast to the typically small scale of Krasner's earlier work. She only had a small space in a bedroom in which to work; however, after her husband's death she moved into his large studio space and was able to work on a much larger scale.

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Celebration

Lee Krasner

Did You Know?

Description