Abstract Expressionism

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

I decided to change my planned post for today to something completely different due to time sensitivity.  Today’s post will highlight the Abstract Expressionism show at the Tampa Museum of Art because it closes on August 11 and if you haven’t seen it, you should.  I saw this show this weekend and it is really wonderful.  I have been pleasantly surprised by the exhibitions at the TMA as of late and this one is no exception.

Abstract Expressionism: A Social Revolution Selections from the Haskell Collection includes quite a few of the major players of the movement, such as Robert Motherwell, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko and more.  A notable exclusion is the work of Jackson Pollock who was essentially the face of the movement.  That being said, I was so pleased to see a number of large scale works and works by women artists (the painting attached to this post is by Helen Frankenthaler).  The quality of the work on display is also quite good for the setting and the location (a smaller art institution in, essentially, a smaller city).  For example, the de Kooning is small in size, but it is indicative of what would become his “Woman” series.  With an admission price of $15, I’d say it’s bargain to be able to bask in the glow of such revolutionary artists all gathered together in one building.  Additionally, the show’s catalog is exceptional in that its over-sized format (nearly 12″ x 12″) allows for large, full page reproductions of nearly every piece in the show.

For more information on Abstract Expressionism: A Social Revolution Selections from the Haskell Collection currently on view at the Tampa Museum of Art, please visit…

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I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.