Grace Hartigan (1922- 2008) was a fiercely independent artist who expanded the definition of Abstract Expressionism. By using figuration as the basis for abstraction she anticipated and influenced what would later become Pop Art. The first exhibition dedicated to her collages, this presentation largely focuses on collages produced during the 1950s and 60s and provides insight into her working process. Often overlooked, collage was vital to Hartigan's creative process and a vehicle for exploration. Incorporating cut up watercolors, paintings and prints; painted words, newspaper and magazine cutouts, collage allowed her the freedom to experiment with new ideas, colors and forms which eventually found their way into the large scale paintings the artist is most known for.
