Abstractions

Abstract art is art that does not mimic visual reality. Using shapes, hues, gestures, materials—and even light—artists depart from depicting what is around them to render impressions, geometries, emotions, and sensations. The Smart’s collection possesses historical strengths in early examples of abstraction by artists such as Helen Saunders, as well as icons of the mid-century New York art scene like Mark Rothko and Joan Mitchell. Importantly, the collection includes substantial abstract paintings by African American artists (such as Norman Lewis and Sam Gilliam) and Asian artists (such as Lee Ufan and Kishio Suga).