Albert Kotin facts for kids

Albert Kotin (born August 7, 1907 – died February 6, 1980) was an important American artist. He was part of the first group of artists in the New York School. This group created a style of art called Abstract Expressionism. By the 1950s, their art was famous worldwide, even in Paris.

The New York School of Abstract Expressionism became a leading art movement after World War II. Famous artists like Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Franz Kline were also part of this exciting movement.

About Albert Kotin

Albert Kotin was born on August 7, 1907, in Minsk, which was then part of the Russian Empire. He moved to the United States in 1908 and became an American citizen in 1923.

His Art Education

Kotin studied art at several places. From 1924 to 1929, he attended the National Academy of Design in New York City. He also studied with Charles Hawthorne in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Later, from 1929 to 1932, he went to Paris, France. There, he studied at famous art schools like the Académie Julian and the Académie Colarossi. After serving in the military, he continued his studies. From 1947 to 1951, he studied at The Art Students League of New York. He also learned from the well-known artist Hans Hofmann in Provincetown and New York City.

Working for the Government

Albert Kotin took part in government art programs. These programs helped artists find work during tough economic times. He worked on the Federal Art Project, including the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) from 1933 to 1934. He also worked for the Works Progress Administration/Federal Art Project (WPA/FAP) from 1935 to 1940.

Kotin won art competitions funded by the U.S. Treasury Department. He created two large paintings, called murals, for the Kearney, New Jersey, post office in 1938. These murals were titled The City and The Marsh.

Military Service

Kotin served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was in the military from 1941 to 1945.

The Downtown Group

After the war, Kotin found an art studio on 10th Street in New York City. He soon joined a group of artists known as the "Downtown Group." These artists had studios in lower Manhattan. They were called "Downtown" to distinguish them from the "Uptown Group" of artists.

In 1949, Kotin became a member of the "Artists' Club." This club was an important meeting place for many artists.

The Ninth Street Show

Albert Kotin was chosen by other artists to show his work in a very important exhibition. This was the Ninth Street Show, held from May 21 to June 10, 1951. The show took place in a building that was about to be torn down.

This exhibition was a big deal for the artists. It helped art dealers, collectors, and museum staff see their work. It also showed how strong and connected the art community was in New York City.

Kotin also participated in all the yearly "New York Painting and Sculpture Annuals." The first one was the Ninth Street Show in 1951. From 1953 to 1957, these annual shows were held at the Stable Gallery. Kotin was one of only 24 artists out of 256 who were included in every single one of these important shows. This was special because the artists themselves chose who would participate.

Harold Rosenberg, a well-known art critic, recognized Albert Kotin as one of the "Tenth Street Artists." Kotin's art was shown in several galleries, including the Anita Shapolsky Gallery.

Artist and Poet

Albert Kotin was also a poet. He inspired his fellow artists with his words. The famous sculptor Alexander Calder once wrote in 1968, "As long as there are people such as Al Kotin, there is no danger to art."

Albert Kotin passed away on February 6, 1980, in New York City.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

• 1951: Hacker Gallery, New York City (his first solo show)
• 1958: Grand Central Moderns Gallery, New York City
• 1959: Tanager Gallery, New York City
• 1960: Galerie Iris Clert, Paris, France; Pollock Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• 1961: Mili-Jay Gallery, Woodstock, New York
• 1964, 1965: Byron Gallery, New York City
• 1968: "Ten Year Retrospective of Albert Kotin's Work", Long Island University, Brooklyn, New York; "Kotin and Carton", Art Faculty two-man show, Long Island University, Brooklyn
• 1982: "Albert Kotin, 1907–1980", Memorial Exhibition, Barron Arts Center, Woodbridge, New Jersey

Selected Group Exhibitions

• 1935: "Exhibition of Oil Paintings", WPA Federal Art Project, Federal Art Gallery, New York City
• 1936: An American Group, Inc., New York City
• 1946: "First National Print Competition Exhibit", Associated American Artists, New York City
• 1947: "J & E.R. Pennell Exhibition of Prints", Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
• 1948: "46th Annual Exhibition", The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia
• 1949: "8 & 2 Exhibition" The New School for Social Research, New York City
• 1951: Ninth Street Show, the first "New York Painting and Sculpture Annual", New York City
• 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957: "New York Painting and Sculpture Annual", Stable Gallery, New York City
• 1956: "Painters and Sculptors on 10th Street", Tanager Gallery, New York City
• 1957: "First Spring Annual Exhibition", March Gallery, New York City
• 1958: "A to Z in American Arts", Provincetown Arts Festival, M. Knoedler & Co., New York City; Camino Gallery, New York City
• 1959: "10th Street", Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, Texas
• 1960: "New York Artists: A Drawing Show", Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois; Galerie Iris Clert, Paris, France; Pollock Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• 1960–61: Mili-Jay Gallery, Woodstock, New York
• 1961: Allyn Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri
• 1962, 1972: Long Island University, Brooklyn, New York
• 1963: "Multiples", Graham Gallery, New York City, New York; Key Gallery, New York City
• 1963–64: "Hans Hofmann and His Students", circulated by the Museum of Modern Art, New York City
• 1963, 1964: Aegis Gallery, New York City
• 1965: "79 painters who paint", held simultaneously in: Grace Borgenicht, Graham, Martha Jackson, Kornblee and Poindexter Galleries, New York City
• 1966: "New York '66", College Museum, Hampton Institute, Hampton, Virginia
• 1971: Roko Gallery, New York City
• 1994: "Reclaiming Artists of the New York School. Toward a More Inclusive View of the 1950s", Baruch College City University, New York City; "New York-Provincetown: A 50s Connection", Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Provincetown, Massachusetts
• 2004: "Reuniting an Era Abstract Expressionists of the 1950s.", Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, Illinois