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The Art of Abstraction (Hint: It’s All About YOU)

Open-minded, unconventional. Alternative, comfortable with ambiguity. These are just a few words and phrases that describe people who enjoy abstract art.

On the other hand, if you’ve ever approached a work of abstract art and thought, “My 5-year old could have done that,” you are not alone. Many people tend to think that abstract artists lack actual ability or talent. However, most if not all “abstract artists” began as traditional artists creating representational, “realistic” art. Artists understand that it’s only after you’ve mastered technique that you can dare to bend the rules. As Picasso famously quipped, “Learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist.” Abstract art is decidedly a rule breaker and it is this free engagement with form, color, line and a child-like sense of discovery that make the best abstract art. At its core, abstract art is no slave to reality. Rather, it’s a leap into the uncertainty of not fully knowing and trusting your intuition as you go.

To gain a fuller understanding of abstract art it’s important to trace its history. Back in the day and before the advent of photography, an artist’s most important task was to make a painting or sculpture look realistic. These works were a snapshot in time, recording a realistic record of what was so. But once photography came along, the rules in art began to change. Following is an abbreviated history:

Late 19^th Century: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism (think Renoir, Monet; Van Gogh and Gauguin) begin to move the wheels to freer interpretation of “what is.” This is seen most acutely in novel ways of using color and brushstrokes to convey a different take on reality and express emotion through color.

Cubism (1907-1912): Artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque break objects into geometric shapes, challenging traditional perspective. (Keep in mind that Picasso was trained as a traditional painter and his early work is very realistic. He is clearly a skilled painter and adept with technique, yet he became famous for his daring cubism paintings.)

Pure Abstraction (1910-1914): Wassily Kandinsky (often called the Father of Abstract Art, along with Mondrian and Malevitch) paints some of the first completely non-objective works, linking color and form to inner emotion and music.

Suprematism and De Stijl (a Dutch art movement): Kazimir Malevich in Russia and Piet Mondrian in the Netherlands use strict geometric purity and primary colors.

New York School (1940s-1950s): New York City takes over as the nexus for a post-war movement of abstraction and shifts global art to NYC. This leads to Abstract Expressionism……

Abstract Expressionism: Includes “Action Painting”—think Jackson Pollock who created in chaotic, energetic drip techniques using buckets of house paint. And what’s called “Color Field” painting, i.e. Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman, who use large, flat areas of raw color to evoke deep emotional and spiritual responses.

Minimalism (1960s): Artists like Donald Judd strip art down to extreme geometric simplicity using industrial materials.

Op Art and Conceptual Art: Artists experiment with optical illusion and ideas over the visual object.

Contemporary Abstract Art: Today’s abstract art is often called contemporary abstraction, contemporary abstract art, or simply modern abstract art in casual speech. Unlike the fixed historical movements of the 20th century, it has no single governing rule and includes many mixing styles.

Ironically, the “fathers” of abstract art, who are said to be Kandinsky, Mondrian and Malevitch were actually preceded by a woman, so instead it might be more accurate to think “mother of abstract art!” Her name was Hilma af Klint, a Swedish painter who created a series of abstract paintings a full four years before the watercolor paintings of Kandinsky.

The greatest allure of abstract art is that it allows the viewer to make up their own mind about what is going on in the work much more so than with realistic or representational art. It is well known that we all see the same thing in different ways and nowhere is this truer than with an abstract image. I have done a number of abstract paintings myself and I love the freedom it gives me as a painter to communicate a feeling using pure color, composition, shapes and lines. And when the work is finished, I find it fascinating to hear responses from my viewers. In one work, titled “Bodega Bay #3” my husband says he sees a jet ski in the painting. This painting resonated with many, in different ways. During a wildfire in Sonoma County, while out of town, my colleague made sure to grab this painting off my office wall so it wasn’t in harm’s way, attesting to his connection to the painting. Still others have commented they feel a sense of home when they view this painting, which seems fitting as I was working in a real estate office at the time I painted it and had just purchased a home. The beauty of abstract art is that the work is up for interpretation—most importantly, your interpretation.

With all that said, make sure to stop by the gallery and have some fun coming up with your own interpretations. Our theme wall this month is called “Retro Abstractions,” and is dedicated entirely to abstract art. We invite you to come take a look and have fun making up your own story of each piece. Afterall, it’s your perspective that matters. And if abstract art isn’t for you, not to worry–we have 50+ regional talented artists in the gallery and everything from paintings, sculpture, ceramics, wood, metal, glass, repurposed clothing, cards, gifts……there is truly something for everyone at Auburn Old Town Gallery.

–Michelle Magnus Brown, August 2026