“I don’t paint to live, I live to paint.” ~Willem de Kooning

Willem de Kooning (pronunciation) was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on April 24, 1904. His father, Leendert de Kooning, was a businessman while his mother, Cornelia Nobel, was a homemaker. As a child, Willem took an interest in art and would often skip school to go to the local museum. 

A Tree in Naples

In 1926, at the age of 17, Willem left Holland and traveled to the United States to pursue his dream of becoming an artist. He settled in New York City in 1927, where he studied with several prominent artists, including Piet Mondrian and Fernand Léger.

Excavation

He struggled in the early years of his career, working odd jobs to make ends meet. However, he was introduced to the Abstract Expressionist movement by his friend and fellow artist, Jackson Pollock. After that, Willem’s work entered a new phase, characterized by more abstract forms and bolder colors. This period is often considered to be his most creative and innovative.

Pink Angels

During his lifetime, he achieved great acclaim and recognition for his work. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964 and was named a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 1986.

Police Gazette

De Kooning continued to paint until his death in 1997. The last piece he painted was Untitled XXV, which currently resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Untitled XI


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Willem de Kooning: PaintingsWillem de Kooning: PaintingsWillem de Kooning: PaintingsWillem De Kooning: The Late Paintings, the 1980sWillem De Kooning: The Late Paintings, the 1980sWillem De Kooning: The Late Paintings, the 1980s