NICHOLAS KRUSHENICK (AFTER) American, 1929 - 1999 15th Invitational Art Exhibition at Cinema, circa 1964 color lithographesd poster Color lithograph by New York artist Nicholas Krushenick (1929–1999); it is a prime example of his signature "Pop Abstraction" style, which blends the bold, graphic sensibilities of Pop Art with the formal rigors of Geometric Abstraction. The composition features a vibrant palette of primary red, yellow, and blue, defined by heavy, black-outlined forms that create a high-contrast, comic-book aesthetic. Central to the image is a series of thick, yellow ribbon-like shapes that arch upward against a solid red background, while a blue semi-circular form at the base provides a cool-toned focal point. Krushenick's work is celebrated for its energetic, hard-edged precision and its ability to bridge the gap between abstract expressionism and the burgeoning graphic art movement of the 1960s. DIMENSIONS: Sight (as matted): 37 x 29 inches; frame: 45 x 37 inches $100-120
ARTIST PROFILE: Nicholas Krushenick (1929–1999) was a pioneering American artist frequently referred to as "the father of Pop abstraction" for his singular ability to bridge the gap between Abstract Expressionism and the graphic sensibilities of Pop Art. Raised in a working-class Ukrainian-American family in New York, he utilized the GI Bill to study at the Art Students League and the Hans Hofmann School of Fine Art after serving in World War II. Along with his brother John, he co-founded the influential Brata Gallery, a 10th Street cooperative that served as a vital launching pad for experimental artists outside the conservative uptown gallery scene. Krushenick's mature style emerged in the mid-1960s, characterized by high-voltage Liquitex acrylics and bold, geometric forms flattened by thick black outlines that mirrored the aesthetics of cartoon illustration without referencing recognizable pop-culture objects. Though he exhibited at major institutions like the Guggenheim and the Whitney, he maintained an "outsider" identity, eventually transitioning into a long-term academic career as a professor at the University of Maryland from 1977 until 1991. His legacy continues to be celebrated through posthumous surveys and literary treatments that highlight his role as a pioneer of a paradoxical, vibrant genre.
