New York School (art) facts for kids

The New York School was a group of American artists. They included poets, painters, dancers, and musicians. They were active in the 1950s and 1960s. They all lived and worked in New York City.

These artists often found ideas from surrealism. This was an art movement that used dreams and imagination. They also liked new and experimental art styles. These included action painting and abstract expressionism. They also enjoyed jazz music and experimental music. Their friendships in New York City's art world were also a big inspiration.

Meet the Artists: People of the New York School

Frank O'Hara was a very important person in this group. He was a poet. He helped connect many of the artists. He worked as a curator at the Museum of Modern Art. This job helped him meet many painters. Some of these painters were Jane Freilicher, Fairfield Porter, and Larry Rivers.

Many artists in the group worked together. Poets like O'Hara, Kenneth Koch, John Ashbery, and James Schuyler often created art together. For example, Larry Rivers inspired a play by Koch. Koch and Ashbery wrote a poem called "A Postcard to Popeye." Ashbery and Schuyler wrote a novel. O'Hara and Schuyler also worked on a poem together.

Some poets, like Ron Padgett and Ted Berrigan, joined the group from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The four main poets—Koch, O'Hara, Schuyler, and Ashbery—were different. But they respected each other. They also had many things in common:

• Most of them went to Harvard University.
• Most of them served in the military.
• Most of them wrote reviews about art.
• Most of them lived in New York when they started writing poetry.

These poets were inspired by French Surrealists. These included artists like Raymond Roussel. A writer named David Lehman said their work was witty and humorous. He said it was like the art of Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg.

Poetry: Words from the New York School

Critics say the New York School poets reacted to another style of poetry. This was called the Confessionalist movement. The New York School poets wrote about many topics. Their poems could be light, strong, or just about things they observed. Their writing style was often seen as worldly and well-traveled.

These poets often wrote very quickly and naturally. It was like a "stream of consciousness" style. They used strong and clear pictures in their poems. They were inspired by Surrealism. They also loved the new art movements. This included the "action painting" of their friends. Famous action painters were Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning.

Many poets are linked to the New York School. Some well-known names include John Ashbery, Frank O'Hara, Kenneth Koch, and James Schuyler. Other poets were Barbara Guest, Ted Berrigan, and Alice Notley.

Visual Art: Paintings and Exhibitions

The New York School also included abstract expressionist painters. These artists were famous in the 1950s. Their work was shown in many art shows. The first big show was the 9th Street Art Exhibition in 1951. After that, there were more shows every year. These were held at the Stable Gallery in New York City.

Some painters in the New York School were Joan Mitchell and Philip Guston. Other artists from the 1960s were also part of this group. These included Richard Pousette-Dart and Nell Blaine. Some artists were both painters and sculptors. These included Karel Appel and Betty Parsons.

Art Galleries that Showed the New York School

The Anita Shapolsky Gallery in New York City focuses on art from the 1950s and 1960s. They show expressionism and abstract art. Most of their art is made with oil or acrylic paints. They also show sculptures.

The Tibor de Nagy Gallery and Stable Gallery also showed New York School art. In 1998, the Gagosian Gallery in New York City had a special show of their art.

Music: Sounds of the New York School

The term "New York School" also describes a group of music composers. They were active in the 1950s. This group included John Cage, Morton Feldman, and Christian Wolff. Their music had a big impact on other experimental art groups. They got their name from the Abstract Expressionist painters.

Dance: Movement and Performance

In the 1960s, the Judson Dance Theater changed modern dance. It was located at the Judson Memorial Church in New York City. This group combined different art forms. They mixed new dance moves with performance art. They used music from avant-garde composers. Dancers also worked with visual artists from the New York School.

The artists from Judson Dance Theater are seen as the founders of Postmodern dance. This dance group started from a dance class. The teacher was Robert Ellis Dunn, a musician who studied with John Cage. These artists were experimental. They did not follow the old rules of ballet.

The first Judson concert was on July 6, 1962. Dancers like Steve Paxton and Yvonne Rainer performed their works. Other important dancers included Trisha Brown and Meredith Monk. The years 1962 to 1964 are considered the best time for the Judson Dance Theater.

During the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, New York School artists worked with other dancers. These included Merce Cunningham and Martha Graham.