Byron Browne

"There cannot be a new art without a solid basis in the understanding of past art" Born in 1907, artist Byron Browne was devoted to the creation and exhibition of abstract art. Specializing in still life modernist and synthetic cubism styles, Browne was greatly influenced by his friends and fellow artists such as Willem de Kooning, John Graham and Arshile Gorky, Browne is hailed as one of the leaders of the American avant-guard movement of the 1930's and 1940's. Browne studied at the National Academy of Design from 1925 - 1928. A central figure in numerous artistic and political groups of the 1930's, Browne prompted others to break away from traditional techniques and follow a more passionate and engaged foray into modern art. Endlessly intrigued by the works of Picasso, Miró and other modernists, Browne found a great respect for the underlay of a solid artistic foundation from which one could work with more grounded abandon. Throughout the 1940's Browne's works became more energetic, adopting a rough and painterly feel that sought to accompany his growing interest in mythological and symbolic themes. Browne was a founding member of the group, American Abstract Artists, in the 1950's, and would continue to work until his death in 1961.