Mary Abbott : Abstract Expressionist Paintings 1945-1985    Apr 20 - Jun 9, 2007

Abbott was born in New York and she was brought up there as well as Washington, D.C. Her great, great....great grandfather was John Adams, the second president of the United States. Brought up in a political, wealthy family Mary had no inclination to follow in those footsteps. By 1938 she was taking advanced courses at the Art Students League where one of her teachers was George Grosz. Mary was also part of New York's Society scene and Vogue approached her which led her to a part time career as a professional model. In 1946 when Abbott left her first husband she rented a cold water flat across the street from David Hare. At this time she began to seriously explore issues of modern art and Hare helped foster those experiments and he brought her to The Subjects of the Artist school. As a student Abbott was placed at the heart of the abstract expressionist painting movement. She flourished as an abstract painter encouraged by her teachers Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman. She was also influenced by Willem de Kooning and the two formed a close friendship and love affair that lasted for decades. In the early 1950s Mary was introduced for membership in the Artist's Club by Phillip Pavia and she became one of the few women members, along with Elaine de Kooning and Perle Fine. Mary also bought a home in Southampton but she always kept a studio in the city. This exhibition will look at works Mary created over four decades from 1945-1985.