Clyfford Still

Happy Birthday Clyfford Still!! Born today in 1904, in North Dakota, Clyfford Still was one of the foremost leaders of Abstract Expressionism. After relocating to the west coast in the 40's and teaching at various colleges, including California School of Fine Arts, Still developed his mature style. He became disenchanted with the art world and retreated into obscurity, showing in only occasional exhibitions, creating a mysterious persona. While other artists in the movement had rather predictable compositions of juxtaposed rectangles or narrow strips of thinly applied color, Still painted thick, ragged shapes of color as if the top layer had been torn away revealing the color beneath. He kept the majority of his work and upon his death left instructions for a museum which was just recently opened in Denver, CO. The Clyfford Still Museum, directed by Dean Sobel, is home for over 2400 works which have been sealed off from the public for decades. At the artist's direction the city accepting the work agreed to permanent housing for the work, following the opening none of the work is to be sold or loaned, and the museum cannot include a restaurant or auditorium, all adding to the enigma that is Clyfford Still.