Willem de Kooning was a groundbreaking Dutch-American artist and a central figure in Abstract Expressionism. Known for his powerful brushwork and energetic compositions, he explored the boundaries between abstraction and figuration, creating works that feel both spontaneous and deeply considered. His iconic “Women” series, with its bold gestures and dynamic forms, became emblematic of his ability to merge raw emotion with complex structure.
De Kooning’s studio practice was marked by constant experimentation, as he worked across painting, drawing, and sculpture. His approach influenced generations of artists, helping define the direction of postwar American art. After immigrating to the United States in the 1920s, he became a prominent member of the New York School, a community of artists who shaped the emergence of modern American painting. De Kooning studied at the Rotterdam Academy of Fine Arts before building his career in New York, where his legacy continues to be celebrated in major museums and exhibitions around the world.