#16 Mary Abbott – Sky Study, 1988

Mary Abbott, born in New York City in 1921, was an influential American abstract expressionist painter known for her dynamic compositions and vibrant use of color. Raised in an intellectually prominent family—her mother was a poet and editor—Abbott was exposed to the arts from an early age. She studied at the Art Students League of New York and later trained under the renowned artists George Grosz and Barnett Newman, immersing herself in the post-war New York art scene.

Initially influenced by the gestural techniques of abstract expressionism, Abbott’s work evolved during her time in Haiti and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where she drew inspiration from the lush tropical landscapes and vivid Caribbean light. Her large-scale, emotionally charged canvases combined the spontaneity of action painting with organic forms, reflecting both the energy of New York’s art scene and the serenity of island life. Abbott’s contributions helped pave the way for women in abstract expressionism, leaving a lasting mark on the movement.