Grace

Grace Hartigan emerged as a pivotal figure in the New York School’s second generation of Abstract Expressionists. Initially exhibiting under the pseudonym George Hartigan, she brought a unique perspective shaped by her background in mechanical drafting and her studies with painter Isaac Lane Muse. Her early career was defined by a self-taught grit that allowed her to navigate the mid-century art world and establish a singular voice within the movement. Her practice is recognized for its integration of gestural abstraction with figurative subjects drawn from storefronts, art history, and pop culture. As the only woman included in MoMA’s landmark exhibition The New American Painting, Hartigan’s work frequently explores the complexities of feminine identity and the pulse of modern life. She later dedicated over four decades to the Hoffberger School of Painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art, influencing generations of artists.