AWARENESS- PERLE FINE (1905-1988)

The Life of Perle Fine:

-She immigrated from Russia to Malden, Massachusetts with her parents.

-She had always been interested in art, immediately enrolling into Boston School of Practical Art.

-Seeing as the art opportunities in Boston are limited, Perle would later move to New York.

-Fine would jump around art schools and practices, including Grand Central School of Art and the Art Students League, the former being where she met fellow artist and husband, Maurice Berezov.

-Hans Hoffman opened a studio across from Perle's practice, in 1933, she would visit sporadically in the late 30's developing a close relationship to fellow artist Lee Krasner.

-Through the years, Fine became more interested in non-objective works, joining the ranks of the American Abstract Artists in the early 40s

-In May 1943, Fine would have her first big break with two of her works being selected for the Spring Salon for Young Artists held at Peggy Guggenheim’s museum-gallery Art of This Century.

-This exposure would cause Fine's popularity to increase and in just 2 years, Fine was able to do a solo exhibition at the Willard Gallery in 1945.

-This success would allow her to work as an artist full time under art dealer Karl Nierendorf.

-The style of her non-objective work during this time period, was inspired by music, dance, nature, and outer-space

-In 1948, Fine joined Betty Parsons Gallery, which represented a formidable group of Abstract Epxressionists, including Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Clyfford Still.

-In 1949, at the invitation of Willem de Kooning, Fine joined the Club, a group of artists who frequently gathered to socialize, discuss one another’s work, and contemplate the theoretical underpinnings of Abstract Expressionism.

-In 1954, Perle decided that the New York art world wasn't for her and moved to East Hampton, New York, while there her art subject would change to something more focused on color and form.

-In the early 60s Fine would begin to focus more on teaching,

-Fine’s final major body of work was the Accordment Series, on which she would continue to work until the mid-1980s.

-Her later works are inspired by Agnes Martin.

Summary of: https://www.guggenheim.org/artwork/artist/perle-fine

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Her Art Style:

Early Works

Famous Works:

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Questions:

1. From the article and the photos what seems to be a common theme in Fine's artwork?

2. What fellow Abstract Expressionist do you think Perle mirrors, if none then why?

3. Did any of Fine's methods inspire you or stand out to you? Is there anything that she does that you may be incline to imitate on your own project?

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Extra Resources:

Readings: www.hofstra.edu/pdf/community/museum/museum_guide_pfine.pdf  (Pages 8-11)​