Gestural abstraction

The phrase gestural abstraction refers to a way of making art - not what necessarily gets painted, but how it does.  By abandoning the application of paint to a surface in a controlled and premeditated way, gestural painters apply paint intuitively, physically, by dripping, splattering, pouring, smearing or throwing it at the surface itself. What matters to the gestural abstraction painters then isn't the paint but the physicality, honesty, intuition and deep personal expression. This in turn leads to the artist abandoning a focus on subject matter, turning inward for inspiration. As such, the act of painting itself becomes the subject. Willem de Kooning, Lee Krasner and Franz Kline led this movement from the 1940s onwards, with Jackson Pollock undoubtedly being the most notable with his pierced paint tins, dripping across the surface of Number 1A, 1948 (1948).  Abstract gestural painters explore their deepest emotions and they express that part of themselves during the physical act of painting. Pollock would later note that he had no fears about making changes to a painting, because, he said, the work has a life of its own. The painting itself is a relic of the action, it is a recording of the gestures made. Still influencing artists today, the likes of Caroline Vis and Sebastien Desnos (s3b desnos) both reference Pollock in their work, either echoing the expression of emotion or indeed as Desnos puts it, “action painting."

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Painting, A Warm Feeling, Nestor Toro

Nestor Toro

Painting - 71.1 x 55.9 x 1.8 cm Painting - 28 x 22 x 0.7 inch

$2,025

Painting, Red Valley 2, Nestor Toro

Nestor Toro

Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.8 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 0.7 inch

$1,030

Print, Madrid, Emilio Vedova

Emilio Vedova

Print - 70.5 x 50 cm Print - 27.8 x 19.7 inch

$1,093

Print, Libertad, Emilio Vedova

Emilio Vedova

Print - 70.5 x 50 cm Print - 27.8 x 19.7 inch

$1,822

Painting, Blue Flower, Marta Zawadzka

Marta Zawadzka

Painting - 140 x 110 x 2 cm Painting - 55.1 x 43.3 x 0.8 inch

$3,644

Painting, Janae, Christian Valentine

Christian Valentine

Painting - 91.4 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Painting - 36 x 12 x 2 inch

$700

Painting, Élégance, Muriel Deumie

Muriel Deumie

Painting - 83 x 65 x 2 cm Painting - 32.7 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,518

Painting, Num — 067, Damien Berrard

Damien Berrard

Painting - 100 x 81 x 2.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 1 inch

$3,401

Painting, Num — 068, Damien Berrard

Damien Berrard

Painting - 100 x 81 x 2.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 1 inch

$3,219

Painting, Gravitation 3, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting - 150 x 80 x 1 cm Painting - 59.1 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch

$1,032

Painting, Winter, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting - 150 x 80 x 1 cm Painting - 59.1 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch

$1,032

Painting, Mystic, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting - 150 x 70 x 1 cm Painting - 59.1 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch

$1,518

Painting, Drips 7, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting - 150 x 100 x 1 cm Painting - 59.1 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch

$1,336

Painting, Huile, Muriel Deumie

Muriel Deumie

Painting - 100 x 79 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.1 x 0.8 inch

$1,579

Painting, Riverglass, Muriel Deumie

Muriel Deumie

Painting - 100 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,032

Painting, Ahmed, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 30 x 24 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

$474

Painting, Wei, Mark Hellbusch

Wei

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 30 x 24 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

$474

Painting, Marsfeld LI, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 30 x 24 x 1.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.6 inch

$474

Painting, Marsfeld L, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 40 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

$595

Painting, Claim 106, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 110 x 100 x 1.5 cm Painting - 43.3 x 39.4 x 0.6 inch

$1,603

Painting, Claim 20, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 110 x 100 x 1.5 cm Painting - 43.3 x 39.4 x 0.6 inch

$1,603

Painting, Claim 21, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 100 x 80 x 1.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.6 inch

$1,154

Painting, Touch, Laura Newman

Laura Newman

Painting - 183 x 142 cm Painting - 72 x 55.9 inch

$16,694

Painting, Birds, Laura Newman

Laura Newman

Painting - 183 x 142 cm Painting - 72 x 55.9 inch

$16,902

Painting, Beach house, Laura Newman

Laura Newman

Painting - 183 x 142 cm Painting - 72 x 55.9 inch

$16,902

Print, Egg-V, Stanislav Bojankov

Stanislav Bojankov

Print - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$364

Print, Egg-I, Stanislav Bojankov

Stanislav Bojankov

Print - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$304

Painting, Monitor, Newel Hunter

Newel Hunter

Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.8 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 0.3 inch

$1,350