VVFA Modern | Artists | Abraham Walkowitz (American, 1880 - 1965)
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Abraham Walkowitz was one the first generation American modernists. He experimented with several styles and subjects and is best known for his drawings of New York City and of the dancer Isadora Duncan. His “Cityscape” drawings have an emphasis on expression combined with the elements of geometric abstraction as shown in Cityscape, 1913.
Emigrating from Siberia in 1889 and settling in Brooklyn, Walkowitz attended the National Academy of Design from 1898 to 1900. In 1906 he traveled to Paris studying at the Academie Julien where he was a classmate of Max Weber. Through his friendship with Weber he was introduced to the artistic circle of Leo and Gertrude Stein becoming familiar with painters such as Cezanne, Matisse and Picasso. During his stay in Paris he met Isadora Duncan at Rodin’s studio and over the course of his lifetime made over 5000 drawing of her.
Returning to New York in 1907, he became one of the first painters to promote modern art. His first one-man show was held at the Haas Gallery in 1908. In 1911 he met Alfred Stieglitz and thereafter became a fixture at his gallery constantly discussing and advising him on modern art and also encouraging him to give Georgia O’Keefe her first exhibition in 1916. From 1912-1917 he exhibited regularly at Stieglitz’s Little Galleries at 291 Fifth Avenue. Cityscape, 1913, was executed the year of the famous New York Armory Show of which Walkowitz participated in. In 1939 the Brooklyn Museum held a major retrospective of the artists work.
Exhibitions
Little Galleries, (Alfred Stieglitz, 291) 1912-1917
Armory Show, 1913
Forum Exhibition, 1916
Society of Independent Artists, 1917-1939
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, 1919-1935
Corcoran Gallery biennials, 130-1935
Brooklyn Museum, 1939 (retrospective)
Art Institute of Chicago
Collections
Brooklyn Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Addision Gallery of American Art
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Boston Museum of Fine Art
Museum of Modern Art
Whitney Museum of Art
Hirshhorn Museum
Newark Museum
Emigrating from Siberia in 1889 and settling in Brooklyn, Walkowitz attended the National Academy of Design from 1898 to 1900. In 1906 he traveled to Paris studying at the Academie Julien where he was a classmate of Max Weber. Through his friendship with Weber he was introduced to the artistic circle of Leo and Gertrude Stein becoming familiar with painters such as Cezanne, Matisse and Picasso. During his stay in Paris he met Isadora Duncan at Rodin’s studio and over the course of his lifetime made over 5000 drawing of her.
Returning to New York in 1907, he became one of the first painters to promote modern art. His first one-man show was held at the Haas Gallery in 1908. In 1911 he met Alfred Stieglitz and thereafter became a fixture at his gallery constantly discussing and advising him on modern art and also encouraging him to give Georgia O’Keefe her first exhibition in 1916. From 1912-1917 he exhibited regularly at Stieglitz’s Little Galleries at 291 Fifth Avenue. Cityscape, 1913, was executed the year of the famous New York Armory Show of which Walkowitz participated in. In 1939 the Brooklyn Museum held a major retrospective of the artists work.
Exhibitions
Little Galleries, (Alfred Stieglitz, 291) 1912-1917
Armory Show, 1913
Forum Exhibition, 1916
Society of Independent Artists, 1917-1939
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, 1919-1935
Corcoran Gallery biennials, 130-1935
Brooklyn Museum, 1939 (retrospective)
Art Institute of Chicago
Collections
Brooklyn Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Addision Gallery of American Art
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Boston Museum of Fine Art
Museum of Modern Art
Whitney Museum of Art
Hirshhorn Museum
Newark Museum
