Joseph Stefanelli (1921 – 2017)

Joseph Stefanelli was a painter from the first generation of New York School of Abstract Expressionists, whose members included Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, Adolph Gottlieb, Barnett Newman, Robert Motherwell and others. Their influence and artistic innovation by the 1950s had been recognized around the world. The New York School Abstract Expressionism, became a leading art movement of the post-World War II era. As one of the youngest artists of the Abstract Expressionist Group, Stefanelli participated in the first artists’ annual called the “9th St. Show”. Early Stefanelli works from this important era are rarely available.

John Russell, art critic of the New York Times, wrote about Stephanelli’s work: “He has for a long time had the gift of color that sings out in tune.”

The artist’s paintings are seen in numerous museums throughout the US and Europe.

Biography partially from the Archives of AskART