Bio

Known for his energetic brushwork and bold fusion of abstraction and figuration, Willem de Kooning was a Dutch-born American painter and a leading figure of Abstract Expressionism. After arriving in New York as a stowaway in 1926, he supported himself through commercial art while developing his signature style. His celebrated Women series, begun in 1938, reflected a recurring interest in the human form, often rendered with expressive violence and constant revision. Influenced by Picasso and Surrealism, de Kooning's work evolved to include abstract landscapes and sculpture. Revered for his intellectual depth and lifelong commitment to painting, he continued creating art until Alzheimer's ended his career shortly before his death in 1997.