Famous American artists
From the Hudson River School to Pop Art and beyond.
From the 19th-century landscapes of the Hudson River School to Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art, American artists made New York a world centre of art after 1945. These are the American artists in the Art Icons collection, ordered by how widely known they are today.
1.Andy Warhol
1928–1987 · American · Pop artAndy Warhol (1928–1987) was an American film director associated with Pop art. Known for Campbell's Soup Cans and Brillo Box.
2.Jackson Pollock
1912–1956 · American · Abstract expressionism, Action paintingJackson Pollock (1912–1956) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism and Action painting. Known for No. 5, 1948, Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) and Blue Poles.
3.Georgia O'Keeffe
1887–1986 · American · American modernismGeorgia O'Keeffe (1887–1986) was an American painter associated with American modernism. Known for Blue and Green Music, A Storm and Black Iris.
4.Mary Cassatt
1844–1926 · American · ImpressionismMary Cassatt (1844–1926) was an American painter associated with Impressionism. Known for The Child's Bath, Little Girl in a Blue Armchair and Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge.
5.Mark Rothko
1903–1970 · American · Abstract expressionismMark Rothko (1903–1970) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism. Known for Rothko Chapel.
6.Ansel Adams
1902–1984 · AmericanAnsel Adams (1902–1984) was an American photographer. Known for Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico and The Tetons and the Snake River.
7.Man Ray
1890–1976 · American · Surrealism, DadaMan Ray (1890–1976) was an American film director associated with Surrealism and Dada. Known for Gift, Man Ray 1914 and Landscape (Paysage Fauve).
8.John Singer Sargent
1856–1925 · American · ImpressionismJohn Singer Sargent (1856–1925) was an American painter associated with Impressionism. Known for Madame X (Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau), Carnation, Lily, Lily and Rose and The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit.
9.Edward Hopper
1882–1967 · American · Neorealism, American realismEdward Hopper (1882–1967) was an American painter associated with Neorealism and American realism. Known for Nighthawks, Early Sunday Morning and Automat.
10.Keith Haring
1958–1989 · American · Street art, Contemporary artKeith Haring (1958–1989) was an American painter associated with Street art and Contemporary art. Known for Tuttomondo, Together we can stop AIDS and The Boxers.
11.Jean-Michel Basquiat
1960–1988 · American · Neo-expressionism, PrimitivismJean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988) was an American painter associated with Neo-expressionism and Primitivism.
12.Roy Lichtenstein
1923–1997 · American · Pop artRoy Lichtenstein (1923–1997) was an American painter associated with Pop art. Known for Times Square Mural, The Face of Barcelona and Whaam!.
13.Alexander Calder
1898–1976 · American · Kinetic art, Modern artAlexander Calder (1898–1976) was an American sculptor associated with Kinetic art and Modern art. Known for Flamingo, Araignée rouge and Cirque Calder.
14.Willem de Kooning
1904–1997 · Dutch-American · Abstract expressionism, Action paintingWillem de Kooning (1904–1997) was a Dutch-American painter associated with Abstract expressionism and Action painting. Known for Reclining Figure, Standing Figure and Seated Woman.
15.Grant Wood
1891–1942 · American · RegionalismGrant Wood (1891–1942) was an American painter associated with Regionalism. Known for American Gothic, Daughters of Revolution and The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.
16.Josef Albers
1888–1976 · German-American · Op art, Abstract artJosef Albers (1888–1976) was a German-American painter associated with Op art and Abstract art. Known for Structural Constellation – Two Supraportes.
17.Robert Rauschenberg
1925–2008 · American · Neo-Dada, PostmodernismRobert Rauschenberg (1925–2008) was an American photographer associated with Neo-Dada and Postmodernism. Known for Riding Bikes.
18.Winslow Homer
1836–1910 · American · RealismWinslow Homer (1836–1910) was an American painter associated with Realism. Known for A Country Lad, The Yellow Jacket and The Butterfly.
19.Jasper Johns
born 1930 · American · Neo-DadaJasper Johns (born 1930) is an American painter associated with Neo-Dada. Known for Three Flags.
20.Andrew Wyeth
1917–2009 · American · French RealismAndrew Wyeth (1917–2009) was an American painter associated with French Realism. Known for That Gentleman and Christina's World.
21.Albert Bierstadt
1830–1902 · American · Hudson River schoolAlbert Bierstadt (1830–1902) was an American painter associated with Hudson River school. Known for The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak, Looking Down Yosemite Valley, California and North Dome, Yosemite Valley.
22.Lyonel Feininger
1871–1956 · German-American · ExpressionismLyonel Feininger (1871–1956) was a German-American painter associated with Expressionism. Known for The Cathedral in Halle, Gelmeroda IV and Red Tower II.
23.Helen Frankenthaler
1928–2011 · American · Abstract expressionism, Color FieldHelen Frankenthaler (1928–2011) was an American printmaker associated with Abstract expressionism and Color Field. Known for Mountains and Sea.
24.Thomas Hart Benton
1889–1975 · American · RegionalismThomas Hart Benton (1889–1975) was an American painter associated with Regionalism. Known for Achelous and Hercules, People of Chilmark (Figure composition) and Self-Portrait with Rita.
25.Louis Comfort Tiffany
1848–1933 · American · Art NouveauLouis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933) was an American painter associated with Art Nouveau. Known for candlestick, Education and Angel of the Resurrection.
26.Cy Twombly
1928–2011 · American · Abstract expressionism, PostmodernismCy Twombly (1928–2011) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism and Postmodernism. Known for The Ceiling.
27.Richard Estes
born 1932 · American · PhotorealismRichard Estes (born 1932) is an American painter associated with Photorealism. Known for Telephone Booths.
28.Robert Mapplethorpe
1946–1989 · AmericanRobert Mapplethorpe (1946–1989) was an American photographer. Known for Man in Polyester Suit.
29.Robert Indiana
1928–2018 · American · Pop art, Hard-edge paintingRobert Indiana (1928–2018) was an American costume designer associated with Pop art and Hard-edge painting. Known for LOVE, One Through Zero and Imperial Love.
30.Franz Kline
1910–1962 · American · Abstract expressionism, Action paintingFranz Kline (1910–1962) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism and Action painting.
31.Ellsworth Kelly
1923–2015 · American · Minimalism, Abstract artEllsworth Kelly (1923–2015) was an American sculptor associated with Minimalism and Abstract art. Known for Untitled, Totem and Red Yellow Blue White and Black.
32.Robert Motherwell
1915–1991 · American · Abstract expressionismRobert Motherwell (1915–1991) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism. Known for calligraphy.
33.Faith Ringgold
1930–2024 · American · Feminist artFaith Ringgold (1930–2024) was an American painter associated with Feminist art. Known for The American People Series #20: Die and Flying Home: Harlem Heroes and Heroines (Downtown and Uptown).
34.Hans Hofmann
1880–1966 · German-American · Abstract expressionismHans Hofmann (1880–1966) was a German-American painter associated with Abstract expressionism.
35.Stuart Davis
1892–1964 · American · American modernismStuart Davis (1892–1964) was an American painter associated with American modernism. Known for Waterfront Landscape, Impression of the New York World's Fair (mural study, Communications Building, World's Fair, Flushing, New York) and Boats, Gloucester.
36.Maxfield Parrish
1870–1966 · AmericanMaxfield Parrish (1870–1966) was an American painter. Known for The Gardener, Daybreak and The Lantern Bearers.
37.Sam Francis
1923–1994 · American · Abstract expressionismSam Francis (1923–1994) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism. Known for Untitled (Black Clouds).
38.Adolph Gottlieb
1903–1974 · American · Abstract expressionismAdolph Gottlieb (1903–1974) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism. Known for Sun Deck.
39.Edward Hicks
1780–1849 · American · Naïve artEdward Hicks (1780–1849) was an American painter associated with Naïve art. Known for The Cornell Farm, The Falls of Niagara and The Peaceable Kingdom.
40.Martin Johnson Heade
1819–1904 · American · Hudson River school, LuminismMartin Johnson Heade (1819–1904) was an American painter associated with Hudson River school and Luminism. Known for Sunset, Haywagon in the Distance, Approaching Thunder Storm and Giant Magnolias on a Blue Velvet Cloth.
41.Morris Louis
1912–1962 · American · Abstract expressionism, Washington Color SchoolMorris Louis (1912–1962) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism and Washington Color School. Known for Museum of Modern Art.
42.Wayne Thiebaud
1920–2021 · American · Pop art, ExpressionismWayne Thiebaud (1920–2021) was an American painter associated with Pop art and Expressionism.
43.Richard Diebenkorn
1922–1993 · American · Abstract expressionism, Bay Area Figurative MovementRichard Diebenkorn (1922–1993) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism and Bay Area Figurative Movement.
44.Ruth Orkin
1921–1985 · AmericanRuth Orkin (1921–1985) was an American film director. Known for American Girl in Italy.
45.Michael Heizer
born 1944 · American · Land artMichael Heizer (born 1944) is an American painter associated with Land art. Known for Levitated Mass and Double Negative.
46.Milton Avery
1885–1965 · AmericanMilton Avery (1885–1965) was an American painter. Known for Card Players.
47.Romare Bearden
1911–1988 · American · Abstract art, CubismRomare Bearden (1911–1988) was an American writer associated with Abstract art and Cubism. Known for Untitled ("City of Light").
48.Horace Pippin
1888–1946 · American · Naïve artHorace Pippin (1888–1946) was an American painter associated with Naïve art. Known for Domino Players, The End of the War: Starting Home and Asleep.
49.Tony Smith
1912–1980 · American · Abstract art, MinimalismTony Smith (1912–1980) was an American sculptor associated with Abstract art and Minimalism. Known for She Who Must Be Obeyed, Gracehoper and Wandering Rocks (4/5).
51.Red Grooms
born 1937 · American · Pop artRed Grooms (born 1937) is an American sculptor associated with Pop art.
53.Tsugio Hattori
1951–1998 · American · Abstract expressionismTsugio Hattori (1951–1998) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism.