Famous Modern Painters — Top 99 List

11/ 99

Kazimir Malevich 1879–1935

b. Kyiv Wikipedia 31/32

By 1912, his presence in the art scene was firmly established through his involvement with the Donkey's Tail collective in Moscow. In 1912–1913, the cubo-futurist painting The Knifegrinder captured a sense of fragmented movement, a precursor to the total dissolution of form.

Location The physical presence of his radical geometry can be found in several major institutions across the globe.

12/ 99

Amedeo Modigliani 1884–1920

Italian b. Livorno Expressionism Wikipedia 32/32

In 1907, he also attended the Paul Gauguin retrospective at the Salon d'Automne, an event that left a mark on his developing vision.

Location In the United States, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York holds significant pieces, including a portrait of Jeanne Hebuterne from 1918.

13/ 99

Georges Braque 1882–1963

French b. Argenteuil ['Fauvism', 'Cubism', 'Analytical Cubism', 'Synthetic Cubism'] Wikipedia 31/32

Clarinet and Bottle of Rum on the Mantlepiece (1912). The Musician, created in 1918, reflects a period of personal transition, while his much later 1955 painting, Two Birds, shows a continued interest in the fundamental properties of his chosen subjects.

14/ 99

René Magritte 1898–1967

Belgian b. Lessines Surrealism Wikipedia 32/32

The 1914 painting The Song of Love left a lasting impression on him, introducing a sense of dreamlike tension that resonated deeply. His exploration of concealment reached a poignant peak in the 1928 series The Lovers.

Location The preservation of his visual puzzles is distributed across several major institutions, ensuring his presence remains felt in both Europe and the Americas.

15/ 99

David Hockney 1937–2026

British b. Bradford Wikipedia 23/32

He later moved to London to study at the Royal College of Art, graduating in 1962 with a Gold Medal distinction.

16/ 99

Egon Schiele 1890–1918

Austrian b. Tulln an der Donau Austrian Expressionism Wikipedia 32/32

Portrait of the Art Critic, Arthur Roessler, 1910. In 1915, he paints Portrait of Edith Schiele, capturing his wife in a way that reflects his specific expressive language.

Location The weight of Schiele’s output is felt most heavily in Vienna.

17/ 99

Max Ernst 1891–1976

German b. Brühl ['Dada', 'Surrealism'] Wikipedia 30/32

Seeing the works of Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, and Paul Gauguin changed his perspective.

Location Finding the traces of Max Ernst's restless imagination requires a trip through several major cultural hubs.

18/ 99

Francis Bacon 1909–1992

Irish b. Dublin Expressionism, Cubism, Surrealism Wikipedia 30/32

Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion (1944). In 1945, he exhibited Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion, a work that helped establish his reputation.

19/ 99

Gerhard Richter born 1932

German b. Dresden Wikipedia 28/32

From 1957 to 1961, he remains within the academy's structure, working as a master trainee. In 2015, his 1986 work Abstraktes Bild sold for over $44.5 million.

Location The physical presence of Richter’s practice spans major institutional collections across Europe.

20/ 99

Willem de Kooning 1904–1997

Dutch-American b. Rotterdam Abstract Expressionism Wikipedia 30/32

From his teenage years until 1924, he attends these classes in Rotterdam, balancing the demands of work with the study of formal art. Around 1938, he produces Two Standing Men, a work that captures a sense of the figure before the total dismantling of form takes hold.

Trained Robert Rauschenberg #57

21/ 99

Jasper Johns born 1930

American b. Augusta Wikipedia 24/32

The surface of a Johns painting often feels heavy and built up. In the mid-1950s, the painting Flag (1954–55) used a collage of the Stars and Stripes, layering newspaper with pigment.

Location To see his paintings and sculptures in person, one might travel to New York City.

22/ 99

Roy Lichtenstein 1923–1997

American b. Manhattan Pop Art Wikipedia 28/32

The canvas becomes a site of mechanical precision. The 1964 painting Nurse continues this exploration of the romantic and the dramatic.

23/ 99

Georgia O'Keeffe 1887–1986

American b. Sun Prairie American modernism Wikipedia 31/32

Between 1905 and 1906, she attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1931, she produced Cow's Skull: Red, White, and Blue, placing a skeletal form against a backdrop of color.

Location To see her paintings in person, one can travel to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum holds a significant portion of her output.

24/ 99

Mark Rothko 1903–1970

American b. Daugavpils ['Color Field painting', 'Abstract Expressionism']

By 1940, he made the decision to change his name to Mark Rothko.

Location To stand before his canvases is to experience the weight of color in a quiet room.

25/ 99

Edward Hopper 1882–1967

American b. Upper Nyack American realism

Edward Hopper was born in Upper Nyack, United States of America. He studied at the New York School of Art under William Merritt Chase and Robert Henri. In House by the Railroad (1925), a simple composition reveals a sense of mystery and isolation.

26/ 99

Franz Marc 1880–1916

German b. Kreuzstraße German Expressionism Wikipedia 31/32

His time in France, specifically during visits to Paris in 1903 and 1907, acted as a catalyst for this departure. In 1911, he produced The Large Blue Horses, a work that established his preference for non-naturalistic color.

Location The Franz Marc Museum in Kochel am See, Germany, functions as a primary site for his legacy, housing over 150 of his works.

27/ 99

Diego Rivera 1886–1957

Mexican b. Guanajuato Mexican Muralism, Social Realism Wikipedia 31/32

Diego Rivera emerged from a family of modest means in Guanajuato, Mexico, born on December 8, 1886. Specifically, the Detroit Industry: East Wall in the Detroit Institute of Arts functions as a massive fresco that captures the rhythmic, mechanical pulse of labor.

Location Here, the Detroit Industry Murals occupy a central place, capturing the mechanical pulse of labor and the grit of the industrial era.

28/ 99

Fernand Léger 1881–1955

French b. Argentan ['Cubism', 'Tubism', "Section d'Or", 'Purism', 'Dadaism', 'Constructivism'] Wikipedia 27/32

This led to the development of a personal form of Cubism that critics identified as "Tubism." In this style, the world was reimagined through tubular, conical, and cubed forms, creating a sense of volume that felt both solid and dynamic.

Location To encounter the physical presence of his vision, one might travel to the south of France, specifically to Biot in the Alpes-Maritimes.

29/ 99

Giorgio de Chirico 1888–1978

Italian b. Volos Metaphysical art Wikipedia 29/32

De Chirico’s approach to painting was a way of looking past the surface of the everyday to find a hidden, unsettling poetry. By 1913, his presence in the art world was felt in London, where The Uncertainty of the Poet was exhibited at the Tate Gallery.

30/ 99

Umberto Boccioni 1882–1916

b. Reggio Calabria Wikipedia 28/32

By attending the Scuola Libera del Nudo and the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, Boccioni moved beyond the private studio setting into the heart of Italian artistic institutions. His 1909 work, Riot in the Gallery, remains a critical point of transition; it clings to pointillist techniques while adopting a dynamic composition that signals the arrival of Futurist energy.

31/ 99

Oskar Kokoschka 1886–1980

Austrian, Czech, British b. Pöchlarn Expressionism, Viennese Avant-Garde Wikipedia 29/32

He developed a nervously animated style, using bold lines and imagery that drew inspiration from Medieval compositions. In his early years, this manifested in works like The Dreaming Boys, painted about 1908, which showed a departure from the polished realism of his contemporaries.

32/ 99

Yayoi Kusama 1929–2026

Japanese b. Matsumoto Wikipedia 25/32

Seeking greater artistic freedom, she moved to the United States in 1958, eventually settling in New York City.

33/ 99

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner 1880–1938

German b. Aschaffenburg German Expressionism Wikipedia 32/32

This transient existence saw the family living in Frankfurt/Main from 1886, following a period spent in Perlen near Lucerne, Switzerland, between 1887 and 1889. This piece, along with his 1919 oil painting Der Maler, Selbstporträt, reveals a man confronting his own vulnerability through a piercing, intense gaze.

Location The physical presence of Kirchner’s vision is scattered across several major institutions, reflecting the international reach of his influence.

34/ 99

Juan Gris 1887–1927

Spanish b. Madrid Cubism, Synthetic Cubism, Analytical Cubism Wikipedia 31/32

In many of his works, he moves away from the chaotic, shattering abstraction seen in earlier Cubism, opting instead for a more organized and legible structure. By June 1915, the composition Still Life before an Open Window, Place Ravignan was finished.

Location Tracing the physical presence of his work requires a trip through several major collections.

35/ 99

Arshile Gorky 1904–1948

Armenian-American b. Dilkaya Abstract Expressionism, Surrealism Wikipedia 24/32

His practice was not confined to the classroom; he spent much of his time at the Museums of Fine Arts, Boston, studying the old masters. This tendency to pull from the past is evident in the Nighttime, Enigma, and Nostalgia series, created between 1930 and 1934.

Location To see the physical traces of his hand, one might travel to Washington, D.C.

36/ 99

Jean Dubuffet 1901–1985

French b. Le Havre Art Brut Wikipedia 23/32

The Hourloupe cycle is characterized by flat, interlocking forms that appear to weave through one another. In 1972, he completed Group of Four Trees, an abstract outdoor sculpture.

37/ 99

André Derain 1880–1954

French b. Chatou ['Fauvism', 'New Classicism'] Wikipedia 28/32

By focusing on the Thames and the Tower Bridge, he captured a sense of modernity and restless movement.

38/ 99

Robert Delaunay 1885–1941

French b. Paris Orphism, Cubism Wikipedia 27/32

Simultaneous Contrasts: Sun and Moon, exemplifies this approach, showcasing Delaunay’s masterful manipulation of color to convey a sense of energy and movement. Windows Open Simultaneously, 1st Part, 3rd Motif (1912).

Trained Lyonel Feininger #87

39/ 99

Fernando Botero 1932–2023

Colombian b. Medellín Boterismo Wikipedia 28/32

It was in Spain that he began to study at the Academia de San Fernando. The Death of Pablo Escobar (1999/2006) and his various series addressing the abuses in Abu Ghraib show a willingness to use his signature style to confront difficult truths.

Location His presence is felt in the quiet corners of Bogotá, specifically within the La Candelaria neighborhood.

40/ 99

Otto Dix 1891–1969

German b. Untermhaus ['Neue Sachlichkeit', 'Dadaism', 'Expressionism'] Wikipedia 28/32

Dix enters an apprenticeship under the painter Carl Senff, a period of study that lasts until 1910. Portrait of the Journalist Sylvia Von Harden, painted in 1926, captures the specific character of the era.

Location The physical presence of Dix’s vision remains scattered across major international institutions.

41/ 99

Tamara de Lempicka 1898–1980

Polish b. Warsaw Art Deco, Cubism Wikipedia 30/32

Her success was cemented during the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, an event that helped push the Art Deco aesthetic into the mainstream.

Trained by Maurice Denis #73

42/ 99

Maurice de Vlaminck 1876–1958

French b. Paris Fauvism, Post-Impressionism Wikipedia 26/32

Alongside André Derain and Henri Matisse, he was part of this revolutionary group that challenged traditional artistic conventions.

43/ 99

Chaim Soutine 1893–1943

French b. Smilavičy Expressionism Wikipedia 26/32

While often categorized as an Expressionist, to label Soutine solely within this framework feels limiting.

44/ 99

Max Beckmann 1884–1950

German b. Leipzig Expressionism, New Objectivity Wikipedia 27/32

As he matured, Beckmann found himself drawn to the Old Masters.

Location Finding the physical traces of Beckmann's life requires traveling through the cities that shaped his exile and his later years.

45/ 99

Norman Rockwell 1894–1978

American b. New York City Wikipedia 27/32

Parallel to his work for the magazine, Rockwell maintained a deep, sixty-four-year relationship with the Boy Scouts of America. Even his more commercial or specialized commissions carried a sense of narrative weight, such as The Watchmaker of Switzerland in 1948 and April Fool Girl with Shopkeeper in 1948.

46/ 99

Raoul Dufy 1877–1953

French b. Le Havre Fauvism Wikipedia 27/32

This period also saw him undertaking large-scale commissions, including the monumental La Fée Electricité for the 1937 Exposition Internationale in Paris – a vast work celebrating electricity’s impact on modern life, executed with remarkable speed and ingenuity using a new quick-drying medium.

47/ 99

Victor Vasarely 1906–1997

Hungarian-French b. Pécs Op Art, Kinetic Art, Geometric Abstraction Wikipedia 27/32

In works like Torony-Nagy, the intersection of crisp white lines with deep blues and emerald greens creates a rhythmic optical vibration. In 1937, the creation of Zebra marked a shift toward what many consider the earliest examples of Op Art.

Location Tracing the physical presence of his work requires traveling across several locations in France and Hungary.

48/ 99

Friedensreich Hundertwasser 1928–2000

Austrian b. Vienna Organic architecture, Spiral art Wikipedia 29/32

Artistic Training & Rejection of Convention: He briefly attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna but quickly rejected its rigid academic style.

49/ 99

Anselm Kiefer born 1945

German b. Donaueschingen Neo-Expressionism Wikipedia 23/32

Anselm Kiefer stands as one of the most profound and distinctive voices within Neo-Expressionism, an artistic movement that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a powerful reaction against the austerity of Minimalism and Conceptual Art. Born in Donaueschingen, Germany, in 1945, Kiefer’s very existence is inextricably linked to the aftermath of World War II.

Trained by Joseph Beuys #60

50/ 99

Niki de Saint Phalle 1930–2002

French-American b. Neuilly-sur-Seine Nouveau Réalisme, Surrealism Wikipedia 26/32

Educated in both France and the United States – including a period in New York City – Saint Phalle demonstrated early on a refusal to conform, famously painting the fig leaves of sculptures red at her convent school, a gesture hinting at the iconoclasm that would define her career.

51/ 99

H.R. Giger 1940–2014

Swiss b. Chur Biomechanical Surrealism Wikipedia 24/32

At the heart of Giger’s art lies a complex and unsettling vision—a world where humanity has merged with machinery. Perhaps Giger’s most iconic creation is, of course, the Xenomorph from Alien.

52/ 99

Louise Bourgeois 1911–2010

French-American b. 6th arrondissement of Paris Abstract Expressionism, Surrealism Wikipedia 27/32

Her artistic style defied easy categorization, blending elements of Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, and Feminist art with a uniquely personal vocabulary characterized by raw emotion, symbolic imagery, and unsettling forms.

53/ 99

Zdzisław Beksiński 1929–2005

Polish b. Sanok Surrealism Wikipedia 25/32

To step into the canvas of Zdzisław Beksiński is to wander through a landscape where the boundaries between dreams and nightmares dissolve into a singular, haunting reality.

54/ 99

Lucian Freud 1922–2011

British b. Berlin Realism, Figurative art Wikipedia 23/32

Works like Girl with a Kitten (1947) demonstrate this early development, while later pieces such as Benefits Supervisor Sleeping (1995) exemplify his mature style—an unflinching gaze upon the human condition.

55/ 99

Henry Moore 1898–1986

British b. Castleford Modernism, Abstract sculpture Wikipedia 29/32

He later attended Leeds School of Art and then the Royal College of Art in London, immersing himself in the study of classical sculpture and modern movements like Cubism.

56/ 99

Man Ray 1890–1976

American b. Philadelphia Dada, Surrealism

Born in 1890 in Philadelphia to Russian Jewish immigrant parents, his journey from aspiring painter to pioneering photographer and filmmaker embodies the radical artistic ferment of the early 20th century. Early influences included the European avant-garde showcased at Alfred Stieglitz's 291 gallery, and the gritty realism of the Ashcan School – a blend that would subtly inform his later work.

57/ 99

Robert Rauschenberg 1925–2008

American b. Port Arthur Pop Art, Neo-Dada Wikipedia 25/32

Robert Rauschenberg, born Milton Ernest Rauschenberg in 1925 amidst the oil-rich landscapes of Port Arthur, Texas, was an artist whose very existence seemed to echo the dynamic energy and transformative spirit he brought to the art world.

Trained by Willem de Kooning #20, Josef Albers #93

58/ 99

Balthus 1908–2001

French-Polish b. Paris Classical, Figurative Wikipedia 20/32

Born in Paris on February 29, 1908, into a family steeped in intellectual and artistic circles, his life was marked by an early immersion in culture and a deliberate rejection of prevailing artistic trends. Later works, such as Girl at a Window (1957) – famously featured in François Truffaut's film Domicile Conjugal – showcase his ability to capture fleeting moments of introspection and vulnerability.

59/ 99

Alberto Giacometti 1901–1966

Swiss b. Borgonovo Surrealism, Existentialism

Giacometti's formal artistic journey began at the Geneva School of Fine Arts, but it was his move to Paris in 1922 that truly ignited his creative fire.

60/ 99

Joseph Beuys 1921–1986

German b. Krefeld Fluxus, Performance Art Wikipedia 28/32

From a childhood marked by relocation and early exposure to both natural sciences and the burgeoning darkness of Nazism—an event crystallized by rescuing Carl Linnaeus’s Systema Naturae from a book burning—Beuys developed a sensitivity to the fragility of existence and the power of symbolic action.

Trained Anselm Kiefer #49

61/ 99

George Grosz 1893–1959

German b. Berlin Berlin Dada, New Objectivity Wikipedia 28/32

His childhood was shaped by the quietude of this region until the year 1900, when his father’s death uprooted the family. His 1916–1917 oil on canvas, Metropolis, captures this frantic energy through a red-dominated, apocalyptic vision of Berlin.

62/ 99

Jean Arp 1886–1966

German-French b. Strasbourg Dada, Surrealism Wikipedia 29/32

His work was featured in the first surrealist exhibition at the Galerie Pierre in Paris in 1925, solidifying his connection to this movement that delved into the realm of dreams and the subconscious.

63/ 99

Francis Picabia 1879–1953

French b. Paris Cubism, Dada, Surrealism Wikipedia 26/32

His relentless experimentation, his rejection of convention, and his willingness to embrace contradiction paved the way for generations of artists who followed.

64/ 99

Claes Oldenburg 1929–2022

Swedish-American b. Malmö Pop Art Wikipedia 25/32

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1929, Oldenburg possessed an uncanny ability to strip the ordinary of its invisibility.

65/ 99

Remedios Varo 1908–1963

Spanish-Mexican b. Anglès Para-Surrealism Wikipedia 19/32

In the quiet corners of her studio, Remedios Varo worked with a meticulousness that mirrored the technical drawings of her father, a hydraulic engineer. Her upbringing in Anglès, Spain, provided a foundation of duality. She moved through the world with a curious eye, absorbing the landscapes of her frequent relocations and the formal training she received at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid.

66/ 99

Theo van Doesburg 1883–1931

Dutch b. Utrecht De Stijl, Neoplasticism Wikipedia 27/32

He was a prolific writer, poet, and critic, using his pen to articulate the theoretical underpinnings of De Stijl and challenge conventional notions of art. Study for Simultaneous Compositions XXII (1922): A quintessential example of Neoplasticism, showcasing the movement’s signature geometric forms and limited color palette.

67/ 99

Andrew Wyeth 1917–2009

American b. Chadds Ford Township Regionalism, Realism Wikipedia 23/32

Egg Tempera and Watercolor: Wyeth primarily used egg tempera for his larger works, a medium known for its luminosity and detail. Christina’s World (1948): Arguably his most famous work, " Christina's World " depicts a woman crawling through a field towards a farmhouse.

68/ 99

Vladimir Tatlin 1885–1953

Ukrainian/Russian b. Moscow Constructivism Wikipedia 26/32

His journey began not within the hallowed halls of artistic academies – though he would later attend the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture – but with the practical grounding of his father’s profession as a railway engineer and the literary inclinations of his mother.

69/ 99

Georges Rouault 1871–1958

French b. 19th arrondissement of Paris Expressionism, Fauvism Wikipedia 23/32

Georges Rouault, born in Paris in 1871 amidst the turmoil of the Commune, lived a life deeply etched by hardship and spiritual seeking. He simultaneously pursued formal training at the École des Beaux-Arts, where he became a devoted pupil of Gustave Moreau, whose Symbolist leanings further nurtured Rouault's inclination towards emotionally charged subject matter.

70/ 99

László Moholy-Nagy 1895–1946

Hungarian b. Bácsborsód Constructivism, Bauhaus Wikipedia 29/32

Joining the Bauhaus: In 1923, Moholy-Nagy joined the Bauhaus school in Weimar, Germany, initially co-teaching the preliminary course with Josef Albers and eventually replacing Johannes Itten as head of the metal workshop.

71/ 99

Aubrey Beardsley 1872–1898

British b. Brighton Art Nouveau, Decadent art Wikipedia 27/32

beardsley's black ink drawings were influenced by japanese woodcuts, depicting the grotesque, the decadent, and the erotic. his work is characterized by elaborate composition, refined lines, and exploration of themes such as sexual identity. beardsley's contribution to the development of art nouveau was significant, despite his tragically short life. salome, a play by oscar wilde, for which beardsley provided illustrations the yellow book, a magazine co-founded by beardsley, showcasing his art nouveau style /en/art/list/ a book of fifty drawings, a collection of beardsley's works, featuring his unique blend of the grotesque and the erotic

72/ 99

Alexander Calder 1898–1976

Scottish-American b. Lawnton Architectural sculpture Wikipedia 28/32

73/ 99

Maurice Denis 1870–1943

French b. Granville Nabis, Symbolism Wikipedia 26/32

Initially inspired by the vibrant colors and flattened forms of Gauguin and Japanese prints, he later turned towards the more structured compositions of Paul Cézanne, seeking a new form of classicism rooted in modern sensibilities.

Trained Tamara de Lempicka #41

74/ 99

Frank Stella 1936–2024

American b. Malden ['Minimalism', 'Post-Painterly Abstraction'] Wikipedia 22/32

These influences, coupled with studies in history at Princeton University and frequent trips to New York City galleries, laid the groundwork for a radical departure from the prevailing Abstract Expressionism of the time.

75/ 99

Leonora Carrington 1917–2011

British-Mexican b. Clayton-le-Woods Surrealism Wikipedia 22/32

Arca de Noé (1967), a vibrant depiction of Noah’s Ark teeming with fantastical creatures, exemplifies her exploration of creation and renewal.

76/ 99

Maria Prymachenko 1908–1997

Ukrainian b. Bolotnia Naive art, Folk art Wikipedia 26/32

In the 1930s, after being discovered by artist Tetiana Floru, Maria joined the Kyiv Cooperative Embroidery Association, where her talent quickly became apparent.

77/ 99

David Alfaro Siqueiros 1896–1974

Mexican b. Chihuahua City Social Realism, Muralism Wikipedia 24/32

"The New Democracy" (1940s), considered one of his most important works, exemplifies this approach.

78/ 99

Sonia Delaunay 1885–1979

French b. Odesa Orphism & Abstract Art Wikipedia 24/32

Sonia Delaunay, born Sarah Ilinitchna Stern in 1885 within the vibrant atmosphere of Kiev, Ukraine, remains a monumental figure whose brushstrokes helped redefine the boundaries of modern art.

79/ 99

Sigmar Polke 1941–2010

German b. Oleśnica ['Capitalist Realism', 'Neo-Expressionism'] Wikipedia 22/32

He then formally studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf (1961-1967) under a constellation of influential figures: Karl Otto Götz, Gerhard Hoehme, and most significantly, Joseph Beuys.

80/ 99

Giacomo Balla 1871–1958

Italian b. Turin Divisionism and Futurism Wikipedia 25/32

Futurism: A pivotal moment was his embrace of Futurism after meeting Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. Abstract Speed + Sound (Velocità Astratta + Rumore): A significant work exploring speed symbolized by an automobile.

81/ 99

Richard Hamilton 1922–2011

British b. London Pop Art Wikipedia 21/32

Richard Hamilton, born in Pimlico, London, in 1922, emerged from a working-class background with an innate artistic sensibility.

82/ 99

Helen Frankenthaler 1928–2011

American b. Manhattan Abstract Expressionism, Color Field Wikipedia 19/32

While celebrated for her pioneering work with stain painting, Helen Frankenthaler was an artist of relentless experimentation.

83/ 99

Natalia Goncharova 1881–1962

Russian b. Nagaevo-Karbonier Rayonism, Cubo-Futurism Wikipedia 22/32

In 1915, she began a fruitful collaboration with Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, designing costumes and sets that brought a new level of visual spectacle to the stage.

84/ 99

Yves Tanguy 1900–1955

French-American b. 8th arrondissement of Paris Surrealism Wikipedia 26/32

A pivotal moment arrived in 1923 when, while riding a bus through Paris, he glimpsed paintings by Giorgio de Chirico.

85/ 99

Dorothea Tanning 1910–2012

American b. Galesburg Surrealism Wikipedia 20/32

Dorothea Margaret Tanning, born August 25, 1910, in Galesburg, Illinois, emerged from a lineage of Swedish immigrants, inheriting a quiet fortitude that would subtly underpin her boldly imaginative art. A brief stint at Knox College in 1928-30 gave way to the allure of Chicago and then, in 1935, the vibrant energy of New York City.

86/ 99

Cy Twombly 1928–2011

American b. Lexington Abstract Expressionism, Postmodern Wikipedia 21/32

Works like the Ferragosto series (1961) and The Italians (1961) exemplify this period—paintings that seem to exist between calligraphy and chaos, evoking both ancient inscriptions and the immediacy of graffiti.

87/ 99

Lyonel Feininger 1871–1956

German-American b. New York City Expressionism, Cubism Wikipedia 23/32

Notable Works: Some of his significant works include " Werder I " (watercolor), " Gaberndorf II " (paper), and " Boats " (cubism, oil on canvas). Early Marine Paintings: During summer vacations on the island of Usedom (1909-1918), Feininger created numerous marine paintings depicting the Baltic Sea, showcasing his evolving style.

Trained by Robert Delaunay #38

88/ 99

Amrita Sher-Gil 1913–1941

Hungarian-Indian b. Budapest Modern Indian art, Avant-garde Wikipedia 20/32

Amrita Sher-Gil’s style is instantly recognizable for its bold use of color, simplified forms, and expressive figures. Young Girls (1932): A pivotal early work that brought her international recognition.

89/ 99

Karel Appel 1921–2006

Dutch b. Amsterdam CoBrA, Expressionism

Alongside Corneille, Constant, Jan Nieuwenhuys, and Christian Dotremont, Appel spearheaded a radical departure from established artistic norms.

90/ 99

Barnett Newman 1905–1970

American b. New York City Abstract Expressionism Wikipedia 23/32

Barnett Newman, born in 1905 in New York City to Jewish immigrant parents from Poland, emerged as a pivotal figure in the landscape of American art. Initially studying at the Art Students League and later at the City College of New York, Newman absorbed the influences of his time – the burgeoning Cubism of Picasso and the vibrant color palettes of Matisse were early touchstones.

91/ 99

Aleksandr Rodchenko 1891–1956

b. Saint Petersburg

He initially experimented with painting, exploring various styles before finding his unique voice. Graphic Design & Posters: Rodchenko designed impactful posters, including his famous poster for the Lengiz publishing house featuring a young woman with a cupped hand – a symbol of Soviet propaganda and modern design.

92/ 99

Paula Rego 1935–2022

Portuguese b. Lisbon Surrealism, Expressionism, Feminist Art Wikipedia 18/32

As a prominent member of The London Group and an Associate Artist at the National Gallery, she occupied a central position in the British modernist movement.

93/ 99

Josef Albers 1888–1976

German-American b. Bottrop Geometric abstraction Wikipedia 27/32

Gray Instrumentation I Prospectus (1975): A minimalist monochrome painting exemplifying geometric balance and subtle tonal variations.

94/ 99

František Kupka 1871–1957

Czech b. Opočno ['Realism', 'Symbolism', 'Orphism', 'Cubism', 'Abstraction'] Wikipedia 24/32

By 1906, he had settled in Puteaux, a suburb of Paris. His 1911 work, Disks of Newton, Study for Fugue in Two Colors, shows an interest in the intersection of scientific observation and musical rhythm.

Location To see his canvases in person, one might travel to New York City.

95/ 99

Paula Modersohn-Becker 1876–1907

German b. Dresden Expressionism Wikipedia 24/32

Born Minna Hermine Paula Becker on February 8, 1876, in Dresden, Germany, her life was tragically short – she passed away November 30, 1907, in Worpswede – yet within those three decades, she forged a path of remarkable artistic innovation and personal courage.

96/ 99

Kurt Schwitters 1887–1948

b. Hanover Wikipedia 25/32

The term “Merz” itself came from a fragment of text (“Commerz und Privatbank”) cut from an advertisement and incorporated into one of his early works, Das Merzbild (1918-19). Assemblage & Installation Art: Schwitters pioneered these forms, blurring the boundaries between painting, sculpture, and architecture.

97/ 99

José Clemente Orozco 1883–1949

Mexican b. Ciudad Guzmán Mexican Muralism Wikipedia 25/32

Similarly, Cortés & La Malinche is a dramatic depiction of history and culture, showcasing his bold design and artistic technique.

98/ 99

Carlo Carrà 1881–1966

Italian b. Quargnento Futurism, Metaphysical art Wikipedia 23/32

Returning to Milan in 1901, Carrà honed his skills, eventually enrolling at the Brera Academy in 1906, studying under Cesare Tallone.

99/ 99

Maria Helena Vieira da Silva 1908–1992

Portuguese-French b. Lisbon Abstract Art, Art Informel Wikipedia 17/32

The structural rigor of Paul Cézanne resonated deeply within her work, particularly his exploration of form and perspective.