Robert Goodnough

Defying labels, Abstract Expressionist Robert Goodnough created paintings that ranged in style from energetic Cubist pieces to color field paintings. Influenced by Cubism and his teacher Hans Hofmann—who influenced Goodnough’s artistic pivot to abstraction—Goodnough painted works that integrated elements of Cubism and Abstract Expressionism. Part of the second generation of Abstract Expressionists, he is best known for his signature style of large geometric shapes with bold colors and calligraphic lines in works such as Basement (n.d.). After moving towards color field paintings, he produced works like Vari-color gold (1976), which includes colored shards over backgrounds of colorful drips. He studied at Syracuse University and Ozenfant School of Fine Arts with Amédée Ozenfant. His work is in the collections of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Art Institute of Chicago.