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."
Save your search and find it in your favorites
Save your search to find it quickly
Saved search
Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches
Unsaved search
A problem occurred
Pourpre céruléen
Blandine Insler
Painting - 100 x 100 x 2.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1 inch
$2,223
The man who sold the world
Blandine Insler
Painting - 89 x 116 x 2.5 cm Painting - 35 x 45.7 x 1 inch
$2,223
Knockin’ on Heaven’s door
Blandine Insler
Painting - 116 x 89 x 2.5 cm Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 1 inch
$2,223
Smells Like Teen Spirit 2
Blandine Insler
Painting - 100 x 100 x 2.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1 inch
$2,223
Collection Bleu d'été - "Blue III"
Thomas Jeunet
Painting - 38 x 55 x 1.5 cm Painting - 15 x 21.7 x 0.6 inch
$819
Natural landscape
Damien Berrard
Painting - 130 x 97 x 2.5 cm Painting - 51.2 x 38.2 x 1 inch
$5,265
Les poissons rouges
Damien Berrard
Painting - 116 x 89 x 2.5 cm Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 1 inch
$4,563
Whispers of pink
Juliana Haggoo
Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch
$2,574
Déchirures II, purple
Damien Berrard
Painting - 65 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
$2,223
Déchirures, yellow
Damien Berrard
Painting - 65 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
$2,223
Les lumières de la ville
Damien Berrard
Painting - 65 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
$2,340
Un météore traversant le magma
Yichao Sun
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,170
Misty landacape with golden sun
Tiny de Bruin
Painting - 80 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch
$2,059
Capsule Reflets d'automne à New York - Illuminations de novembre
Thomas Jeunet
Painting - 80 x 100 x 3.5 cm Painting - 31.5 x 39.4 x 1.4 inch
$1,872
Collection Bleu d'été - Abysse
Thomas Jeunet
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.4 inch
$994
Océan au Crépuscule
Muriel Deumie
Painting - 150 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 59.1 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$1,404
Curiosité Intellectuelle
Muriel Deumie
Painting - 100 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch
$2,106
Sir David Attenborough
Marta Zawadzka
Painting - 120 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch
$5,440
Glare garden (Purple and yellow reflections)
Nestor Toro
Painting - 88.9 x 66 x 1.8 cm Painting - 35 x 26 x 0.7 inch
$2,170
Golden sand terrain
Nestor Toro
Painting - 50.8 x 121.9 x 1.8 cm Painting - 20 x 48 x 0.7 inch
$2,180
Sky walking terrain
Nestor Toro
Painting - 50.8 x 121.9 x 1.8 cm Painting - 20 x 48 x 0.7 inch
$2,180
Modern spectra and lights (With Teal)
Nestor Toro
Painting - 61 x 45.7 x 3.8 cm Painting - 24 x 18 x 1.5 inch
$1,230
Picture Perfect (Shimmering Sky)
Nestor Toro
Painting - 71.1 x 55.9 x 3.8 cm Painting - 28 x 22 x 1.5 inch
$2,165
Vernal garden (With Green)
Nestor Toro
Painting - 50.8 x 121.9 x 1.8 cm Painting - 20 x 48 x 0.7 inch
$2,530
Evergreen Garden (Silver lights)
Nestor Toro
Painting - 71.1 x 55.9 x 1.8 cm Painting - 28 x 22 x 0.7 inch
$1,300
Like nothing else (Experimental garden)
Nestor Toro
Painting - 71.1 x 55.9 x 1.8 cm Painting - 28 x 22 x 0.7 inch
$1,300
Natures imagery (scattering colors) 1
Nestor Toro
Painting - 50.8 x 121.9 x 1.3 cm Painting - 20 x 48 x 0.5 inch
$1,970
Daydream panorama (Natures Imagery) 23
Nestor Toro
Painting - 71.1 x 55.9 x 1.8 cm Painting - 28 x 22 x 0.7 inch
$2,180
Isolated forest (evening light)
Nestor Toro
Painting - 71.1 x 55.9 x 1.8 cm Painting - 28 x 22 x 0.7 inch
$2,180
Yellow reunion (Lost lights)
Nestor Toro
Painting - 76.2 x 61 x 1.8 cm Painting - 30 x 24 x 0.7 inch
$2,530
Waterflow (Night Clouds)
Nestor Toro
Painting - 61 x 50.8 x 1.8 cm Painting - 24 x 20 x 0.7 inch
$2,020
Frozen Waterflow (Ice ponds)
Nestor Toro
Painting - 61 x 50.8 x 1.8 cm Painting - 24 x 20 x 0.7 inch
$2,020