Paul Jenkins (American, 1923-2012). Screenprint on paper depicting an abstract burst of color, 1980. Pencil signed and dated along the lower right; numbered 15/100 along the lower left. Under the G.I. Bill, Paul Jenkins attended the Art Students League in New York from 1948-52, during which time he studied with Yasuo Kuniyoshi and Morris Kantor.

He remained at the Art Students League until 1952, where he befriended fellow artists Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. Though he is often associated with abstract expressionism, he preferred to think of himself as “an abstract phenomenist.” Jenkins’ pictorial universe consists of streaks of color that awaken associations. He produced his first picture with diluted paints in 1951; later they were executed as pour pictures. The layers of pigment covering the picture supports are whisper-thin. Jenkins’ handling is intuitive yet informed by philosophy. He was receptive to sources of inspiration provided by the manifold impressions he had of his immediate surroundings. His aesthetic experiments usually involve the prismatic colors of the rainbow. However, Jenkins also worked up the impressions he had received on his extensive travels. In such cases, it is the distinctive color of a particular place that he found most fascinating.

Height: 59 in x width: 40 1/2 in.