Howard Mehring

Howard Mehring

Howard Mehring was an American artist who played a significant role in the development of the Washington Color School. He was known for his innovative use of color and shape, which helped to define the Color Field movement. Mehring's works were characterized by their vibrant hues and geometric forms, which he used to create dynamic compositions that were both visually engaging and emotionally resonant. Mehring was born in Washington, D.C. in 1931 and studied at the University of Maryland School of Art and the Corcoran School of Art and Design. He was a founding member of the Washington Color School, which emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a response to the dominant Abstract Expressionist movement. The Washington Color School was characterized by its use of vibrant color and geometric forms, which were often applied to large, flat canvases. Mehring's works were included in several important survey exhibitions of postwar American art, including Documenta IV in 1968 and the Museum of Modern Art's 1970 exhibition of the Washington Color School. He was also the subject of numerous solo exhibitions, including shows at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Mehring's legacy continues to influence contemporary artists working in the Color Field tradition. His innovative use of color and shape helped to redefine the possibilities of abstract painting, and his works remain powerful examples of the emotional and aesthetic potential of non-representational art.

Howard Mehring, Washington Color School, Color Field, geometric forms, vibrant color

— Joseph Williams