Definitions for "Abstract expressionism"
A modern art movement that began in New York City during the 1940s which was the first significant art movement that was distinctly American. Some artists involved in this movement were Willem de Kooning, Arshille Gorky, Franz Kline and Jackson Pollock. The movement's main objective was to use art as a means to make powerful, exciting statements and the way these statements were made was a stark departure from the norm of the time.
A style (or styles) of painting originating primarily in America during the last years of World War 1, characterised by spontaneous action recorded in free calligraphic forms, exploitation of the accident and strong colour value patterns that express personal intuitive awareness. Large canvases give environmental impact to these images.
American art movement of the 1940s that emphasized form and colour within a non-representational framework. Artists working in many different styles emphasized spontaneous personal expression in large, abstract paintings.