John McLaughlin (artist) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin, 1963
Born	John Dwyer McLaughlin (1898-05-21)May 21, 1898 Sharon, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	March 22, 1976(1976-03-22) (aged 77) Dana Point, California, U.S.
Known for	Painting
Movement	Hard-edge painting, Minimalism

John Dwyer McLaughlin (born May 21, 1898 – died March 22, 1976) was an American artist. He created abstract paintings. Living mostly in California, he was a leader in art styles called minimalism and hard-edge painting. Many people consider McLaughlin one of the most important Californian artists after World War II.

McLaughlin painted simple geometric shapes. His art did not show everyday objects or experiences. He was inspired by the Japanese idea of "the void" or empty space. He wanted his paintings to be free of any specific objects or figures. This led him to use mostly rectangles. By layering rectangular bars, McLaughlin's art makes you think deeply. It helps you understand your connection to nature.

About John McLaughlin's Life

John McLaughlin was born in Sharon, Massachusetts. His father was a judge. John had six brothers and sisters. His parents taught him to love art, especially Asian art.

McLaughlin served in both World War I and World War II. He was in the United States Navy from 1917 to 1921 during World War I.

In 1928, he married Florence Emerson. She was a grandniece of the famous writer Ralph Waldo Emerson. In 1935, John and Florence moved to Japan. There, McLaughlin studied Japanese art and language. When they came back to Boston in 1938, they opened an art gallery. It was called The Tokaido, Inc. The gallery sold Japanese prints and other Asian items.

During World War II, he studied Japanese at the University of Hawaiʻi. He then served in the United States Marine Corps as a translator. Later in the war, he worked for U. S. Army Intelligence. He was a translator in Japan, India, China, and Burma. In 1945, he received the Bronze Star Medal for his excellent service.

John McLaughlin's Painting Career

McLaughlin started painting in the 1930s. This was later in his life. He taught himself to paint and did not go to art school. His love for Asian art and his travels to Asia greatly shaped his art style.

He moved to Dana Point, California in 1946. There, he began painting full-time.

Some of his very first paintings were still lifes and landscapes. But most of his art was abstract. At that time, only a few American artists were making abstract art. McLaughlin's work is known for its simplicity. He used precise geometric forms, usually rectangles. His time in Asia was very important for his style. Zen masters taught that the spaces between objects could be more important than the objects themselves. These spaces could help with meditation. The art of Kazimir Malevich and Piet Mondrian also influenced McLaughlin.

#17, 1966, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum

After 1952, he stopped using curved lines in his art. Paintings from his later years became even simpler. He used fewer forms and colors.

McLaughlin explained his art ideas. He said his goal was to create "totally abstract" art. He wanted his paintings to make viewers think deeply. He did not want to guide them with specific images. So, he used "neutral forms" to remove any objects.

McLaughlin's first solo art show was in 1952. It was at the Felix Landau Gallery in Los Angeles. He also showed his art with André Emmerich in New York and Zurich. His art was shown in many museums. These included the Pasadena Art Museum, Corcoran Gallery, La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art, and Whitney Museum of American Art.

His work was also part of many group shows. One famous show was "Four Abstract Classicists." This exhibit was at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. It also showed art by Karl Benjamin, Lorser Feitelson, and Frederick Hammersley. The term "hard-edge painting" was created to describe the art of these four artists.

A traveling exhibit called "Birth of the Cool: California Art, Design and Culture at Midcentury" featured these abstract classicists. Art critic Ken Johnson wrote about McLaughlin's art in 2008. He said McLaughlin's paintings were very strict in their form. They used smooth, flat rectangles of black, white, and gray. Blocks of color were added carefully. Johnson noted that the art was inspired by Asian art and Zen Buddhism. He said they had a calm, almost spiritual feel.

Life magazine published a special issue in 1962 about California. It featured five famous artists, including John McLaughlin.

McLaughlin passed away on March 22, 1976. He was 77 years old.

In 1963, the Pasadena Art Museum held McLaughlin's first big museum show. In 1968, the Corcoran Gallery of Art held his second major show. The Laguna Art Museum held another show in 1975.

In November 2016, LACMA held a third major museum show for McLaughlin. Art critic Christopher Knight said that McLaughlin "occupies the top tier of 20th century American art."

Where to See John McLaughlin's Art

You can find John McLaughlin's work in many major art collections: