When multidisciplinary Abstract Expressionist artist Amaranth Ehrenhalt first moved from Philadelphia to New York City in the 1950s she unintentionally lived out the “starving artist” lifestyle. She made her paintings on the floor, but not in order to replicate the technique attributed to American painter Jackson Pollock. Owing to her modest financial situation, she simply didn't own a table.
Ehrenhalt graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1951 and attended a weekly course at the Barnes Foundation. There, she basked in the owner's large Parisian art collection and became deeply enamored with French artwork. It should come as no surprise that when a friend offered to trade a round trip to Paris for a portrait, Ehrenhalt jumped at the opportunity. Dutch-American painter Willem de Kooning — a fellow New Yorker at the time — invited her to have dinner upon her return, but after experiencing the Parisian art scene, she canceled her return trip and the two never shared that dinner. Ehrenhalt forged connections with Joan Mitchell, Alberto Giacometti and Yves Klein in the French capital, and remained in the country for over 40 years.
In her later years, Ehrenhalt returned to New York. She often traveled with her son, enraging the security guards at many of the world’s finest museums. From the Louvre in Paris to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, her son, Caradoc remembers guards running and shouting at the sight of Ehrenhalt leaning a nose-length away from the art, her pointer finger hovering closer to the work explaining techniques and details behind the piece. Many of these trips were not just proof of how well-educated and experienced she was, but also lessons in friendship as she knew many of the artists personally.
Ehrenhalt’s work appeared in group exhibitions and solo exhibitions in Paris, California, Italy and New York. Five of her paintings from the mid-20th century were featured in “Encore: Five Abstract Expressionists,” which opened at Baruch College’s Sidney Mishkin Gallery in 2006.
Find original Amaranth Ehrenhalt paintings, prints and other art on 1stDibs.
"Bryan" Amaranth Ehrenhalt, Unique Painting, Woman Abstract Expressionism, 1958
By Amaranth Ehrenhalt
Located in New York, NY
Amaranth Ehrenhalt (1928–2021) Bryan, 1958 Gouache on thick paper Painting: 38 x 28 cm l 15 x 11 in. Frame: 52 x 42 cm l 20 1/2 x 16 1/2 in. Signed, titled and dated Amaranth Ehren...
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
"Appi" Amaranth Ehrenhalt, Unique Painting, Woman Abstract Expressionism, 2003
By Amaranth Ehrenhalt
Located in New York, NY
Amaranth Ehrenhalt (1928–2021) Appi 13, 2003 Gouache and watercolor on thick paper Painting: 20 x 20 cm l 8 x 8 in. Frame: 33 x 33 cm l 13 x 13 in. Signed, titled and dated Amarant...
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
"Arat" Amaranth Ehrenhalt, Unique Painting, Woman Abstract Expressionism, 1974
By Amaranth Ehrenhalt
Located in New York, NY
Amaranth Ehrenhalt (1928–2021) Arat, 1974 Gouache and watercolor on thick paper Painting: 38 x 28 cm l 15 x 11 in. Frame: 52 x 42 cm l 20 1/2 x 16 1/2 in. Signed, titled and dated ...
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
$712Sale Price|20% Off
H 19.75 in W 14 in D 0.13 in
Mid Century Bay Area Abstract Expressionist -- Oak Woodlands of Golden Gate Park
By Honora Berg
Located in Soquel, CA
Bay Area Abstract Expressionist -- Oak Woodlands of San Francisco Golden Gate Park This mid-century painting by Honora Berg (American, 1897-1985) depicts coastal live oaks of Golden...
Archival Paper, Oil Crayon, Watercolor
$198
H 9.85 in W 9.85 in D 0.04 in
Summer Mists, Contemporary Expressionist Style Seascape Painting, Coastal Art
Located in Deddington, GB
This painting reflects the summer sun over Skye on the break of day as the mist lies low in the valleys and the promise of a beautiful day. Using vibrant turquoises to convey the fee...
Paper, Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor
$1,996
H 14.97 in W 22.45 in
French Feminine Contemporary Colorful Abstract Painting By Jean Pierre Guiot
Located in Frederiksberg C, DK
A beautiful and soft feminine gouache painting by French artist Jean Pierre Guiot. With a soft dark color palette of dark green, yellow, red, and blue, this piece exudes an emotional...
Gouache
$2,450
H 17.5 in W 23 in
'Abstracted Landscape', Abstract, Mills College, Whitney Museum, CCAC, ASL
By Jason Schoener 1
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'Schoener' for Jason Schoener (American, 1919-1997) and painted circa 1970. Titled 'Choruscating Landscape' (labels, verso). Accompanied with artist card on origi...
Paper, Gouache
$2,541
H 25 in W 30 in
Rising Burst - Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media Painting, yellow burst of light
By Heather Hartman
Located in Signal Mountain, TN
"Rising Burst" is created by Heather Hartman to capture the light bursting through an obstruction. This painting is is part of an on-going series that explores the light and landscap...
Polyester, Paper, Oil, Acrylic, Gouache, Mesh
$2,541
H 30 in W 25 in D 1 in
Summer's End - Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media Painting, light and shadow
By Heather Hartman
Located in Signal Mountain, TN
"Summer's End " captures the soft patterned shadow of the leaves. This painting is is part of an on-going series that explores the light and landscape in Tennessee. Hartman creates a...
Polyester, Paper, Oil, Acrylic, Gouache, Mesh
$328Sale Price|20% Off
H 7.88 in W 7.88 in D 0.04 in
Contemporary abstract expressionist nature watercolor painting "Nature's pulse"
By Mougenot Natalya
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
In "Nature’s Pulse", Natalya Mougenot captures the living rhythm of the landscape with a looseness and immediacy that feels both timeless and contemporary. Painted in the summer of ...
Paper, Watercolor
$244Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.54 in W 11.7 in D 0.04 in
Abstract Expressionist impressionist nature painting paper "Beneath the palms"
By Mougenot Natalya
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Beneath the Palms" is a vibrant and expressive painting created by contemporary French artist Natalya Mougenot, part of her ongoing series dedicated to the beauty and spirit of Natu...
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor
$751Sale Price|20% Off
H 23.23 in W 27.56 in D 0.04 in
Red sun. 1969, gouache on paper, 59x70 cm
By Gunars Klava
Located in Riga, LV
Red sun. 1969, gouache on paper, 59x70 cm Gunars Klava (1933 – 1989) Gunars Klava was born in 1933 in Priekule. 1953 - graduated from J. Rosenthal Art School 1964 - began to partic...
Paper, Gouache
Untitled Landscape (1967)
By Adine Stix
Located in Summit, NJ
Gorgeous oil on paper by abstract expressionist artist Adine Stix. Beautiful hades of pink, with purple, blue, yellow and a touch of brown create a gorgeous abstract landscape. Sign...
Paper, Oil, Watercolor
Marina Geometric Abstract Watercolor
By Les Anderson
Located in Soquel, CA
Vibrant marina abstract with bold colors and geometric forms by Les (Leslie Luverne) Anderson (American, 1928-2009). From the estate of Les Anderson in Monterey, California. Signed "...
Paper, Watercolor
$4,300
H 59 in W 43 in
Lighthouse Ocean - Abstract Blue Landscape Art Original Waterscape Painting
By Tommy Lennartsson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Urban abstract expressionism artist Tommy Lennartsson draws on the visual culture of street and pop art when creating his original vibrant mixed-medi...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Gouache, Graphite