US Open Artwork

Pieter Hugo

b. 1976

Yaw Francis, Agbogbloshie Market, Accra, Ghana

2009

Pieter Hugo is a contemporary South African photographer, whose work, focusing on marginalized communities in Africa, addresses issues of social stratification, identity, aggression, individual and structural violence, and privilege. Through his lens, he has captured powerful images of Nigerian hyena tamers, albinos, and survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, infusing his work with the complex interplay of his identity as a white South African man and the long shadows cast by Apartheid. His striking visual commentary--featured in The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London--continues to spark dialogue about socio-cultural disparities and the human condition.

Katherine Bradford

b. 1942

Superheroes and Divers (from Paper Variables)

2014

Katherine Bradford, a contemporary American artist, creates bodies of work characterized by lustrous paintings that deftly blend abstraction with representational motifs. Drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as outer space, Superman, Albert Pinkham Ryder's nocturnal paintings, and Mark Rothko's glowing hues, Bradford builds her surfaces with thin washes that imbue her canvases with an eerie, ethereal brilliance that resonates with her exploration of “the language of painting.” Bradford's works are held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Smith College Museum in Maine, the Worcester Museum of Art, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia.

Al Held

1928 - 2005

Victoria XIV

1991

Al Held, an influential American artist, is renowned for his massive Hard-edge paintings that explore abstract, geometric forms in non-Euclidean space. After serving in the US Navy, Held's artistic journey took him to the Art Students League of New York and then to Paris on a GI scholarship, where he mingled with luminaries like Ellsworth Kelly and Joan Mitchell. His early Abstract Expressionist compositions eventually evolved into the saturated colors and geometric rigor of his celebrated Alphabet paintings. His innovative approach to abstraction, turning formal qualities into metaphors for profound truths, was widely recognized and celebrated by his contemporaries. Held had a distinguished career that included a tenured faculty position at the Yale School of Art. His work is held in major collections held at Kunstmuseum Basel, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., and The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Loretta Lux

b. 1969

The Hush

1999

Loretta Lux, a contemporary German photographer, is renowned for her evocatively surreal and dreamlike portraits. Lux captures young children, digitally transforming them into embodiments of the regal stiffness and formality found in Old Master Paintings. Against strangely muted, pastel backgrounds, she deliberately employs nods to both conventional photography styles and the campy imagery prevalent in advertising. Her subjects often appear estranged from their own reality, serving as a symbol for innocence and a distant paradise lost. Her artistic process involves a unique fusion of photography, digital manipulation, and painting. Her contributions have garnered remarkable recognition in the art sphere, including the receipt of an Infinity Award for Art presented by the International Center of Photography in 2005.

Donald Baechler

1956 - 2022

Red and Blue Flowers #2

1995

Donald Baechler, a prominent American artist in the Neo-Expressionist and Pop Art movements of the 1980s, is known for his unique aesthetic characterized by child-like renderings of quintessential subjects like flowers, birds, and ice cream cones, conveying a nostalgic sense of memory. His approach emphasizes formal attributes over narrative ones, utilizing an extensive archive of images that allows him to explore the emblematic quality of silhouettes and the abstraction within pure painting. Baechler's work now resides in collections such as the Goetz Collection in Munich, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Andy Warhol

1928 - 1987

Moonwalk (Feldman & Schellmann II.404-405)

1987

Andy Warhol, an influential and enigmatic American visual artist during the Pop Art era, emerged as a mirror to the mass-media culture of the 1960. Through his signature silkscreens, he immortalized icons like Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Campbell's Soup Cans. Warhol's studio in Midtown Manhattan, The Factory, became a hub for celebrities, models, and fellow artists, with whom he collaborated or drew inspiration. Today, his works are held in collections at the dedicated Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Tate Gallery in London.

Andy Warhol

1928 - 1987

$ (1)

1982

Andy Warhol, an influential and enigmatic American visual artist during the Pop Art era, emerged as a mirror to the mass-media culture of the 1960s. Through his signature silkscreens, he immortalized icons like Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Campbell's Soup Cans. Warhol's studio in Midtown Manhattan, The Factory, became a hub for celebrities, models, and fellow artists, with whom he collaborated or drew inspiration. Today, his works are held in collections at the dedicated Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Tate Gallery in London.

Jasper Johns

b. 1930

Flag on Orange

1998

Jasper Johns is an iconic American artist, whose Neo-Dada paintings, sculptures, and prints, bridge the gap between Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. Best known for works like "Flag" (1954–1955), a collage that abstracts and dampens the influence of the American stars and stripes, Johns utilizes familiar symbols to create sculptural paintings and readymades that resonate with the Pop Art movements. Johns was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 1988 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. His works are held in collections at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Tate Gallery in London, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York, among others

Jasper Johns

b. 1930

Untitled

2000

Jasper Johns is an iconic American artist, whose Neo-Dada paintings, sculptures, and prints, bridge the gap between Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. Best known for works like "Flag" (1954–1955), a collage that abstracts and dampens the influence of the American stars and stripes, Johns utilizes familiar symbols to create sculptural paintings and readymades that resonate with the Pop Art movements. Johns was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 1988 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. His works are held in collections at the Art Institute of Chicago, Tate Gallery in London, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York, among others

Jasper Johns

b. 1930

The Seasons (ULAE 238-241)

1987

Jasper Johns is an iconic American artist, whose Neo-Dada paintings, sculptures, and prints, bridge the gap between Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. Best known for works like "Flag" (1954–1955), a collage that abstracts and dampens the influence of the American stars and stripes, Johns utilizes familiar symbols to create sculptural paintings and readymades that resonate with the Pop Art movements. Johns was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 1988 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. His works are held in collections at the Art Institute of Chicago, Tate Gallery in London, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York, among others

Sam Gilliam

1933 – 2022

Untitled

circa 1975

Sam Gilliam, a prominent African-American painter, was an important figure in the Washington Color School movement and was celebrated for his "drape paintings," which marked a significant evolution in American abstract painting. Drawing inspiration from Yves Klein, Morris Louis, and laundry hanging on clotheslines, Gilliam experimented with folded and draped canvases. Later, his artistic style would incorporate metal forms, thickly applied paint, and quilt-like patterning. Although he noted that his work was not overtly political, he believed in art's power to invoke political awareness. His works are held in collections at The Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Modern in London.

Sam Gilliam

1933 – 2022

Cathedral #2

1980

Sam Gilliam, a prominent African-American painter, was an important figure in the Washington Color School movement and was celebrated for his "drape paintings," which marked a significant evolution in American abstract painting. Drawing inspiration from Yves Klein, Morris Louis, and laundry hanging on clotheslines, Gilliam experimented with folded and draped canvases. Later, his artistic style would incorporate metal forms, thickly applied paint, and quilt-like patterning. Although he noted that his work was not overtly political, he believed in art's power to invoke political awareness. His works are held in collections at The Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Modern in London.

Sam Gilliam

1933 – 2022

Coffee Thyme I and II

circa 1980

Sam Gilliam, a prominent African-American painter, was an important figure in the Washington Color School movement and was celebrated for his "drape paintings," which marked a significant evolution in American abstract painting. Drawing inspiration from Yves Klein, Morris Louis, and laundry hanging on clotheslines, Gilliam experimented with folded and draped canvases. Later, his artistic style would incorporate metal forms, thickly applied paint, and quilt-like patterning. Although he noted that his work was not overtly political, he believed in art's power to invoke political awareness. His works are held in collections at The Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Modern in London.

Nicole Eisenman

b. 1965

Bar

2012

Nicole Eisenman is a contemporary American artist, who is celebrated for her vibrant figurative paintings and sculptures that explore issues of gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic disparities, among others. Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of sources including queer culture, Renoir, and Maria Lassnig, she often imbues her works with distinctive dark humor and astute critiques of tropes found in both Western art history and pop culture. Eisenman's art is held in the collections of the Hammer Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York, among others. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

Bridget Riley

b. 1931

Large Fragment 2

2009

Bridget Riley, a prominent British artist, has earned acclaim for her singular Op Art paintings that utilize clean lines, precise geometry, and intricate color arrangements to create visually mesmerizing effects. Drawing inspiration from the Pointillist Georges Seurat, Riley's work, such as "Cataract 3" (1967), plays with gradients and tonal variations to create a visually tactile experience for the viewer. Her art is featured in major collections worldwide, including The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, and the Tate Gallery in London.

Bridget Riley

b. 1931

Shade (Schubert 37)

1992

Bridget Riley, a prominent British artist, has earned acclaim for her singular Op Art paintings that utilize clean lines, precise geometry, and intricate color arrangements to create visually mesmerizing effects. Drawing inspiration from the Pointillist Georges Seurat, Riley's work, such as "Cataract 3" (1967), plays with gradients and tonal variations to create a visually tactile experience for the viewer. Her art is featured in major collections worldwide, including The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, and the Tate Gallery in London.

Bridget Riley

b. 1931

Sylvan (Schubert 42)

2000

Bridget Riley, a prominent British artist, has earned acclaim for her singular Op Art paintings that utilize clean lines, precise geometry, and intricate color arrangements to create visually mesmerizing effects. Drawing inspiration from the Pointillist Georges Seurat, Riley's work, such as "Cataract 3" (1967), plays with gradients and tonal variations to create a visually tactile experience for the viewer. Her art is featured in major collections worldwide, including The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, and the Tate Gallery in London.

Derrick Adams

b. 1970

Party Guest 1 (We Came to Party and Plan Series)

2020

Derrick Adams is a multidisciplinary African American artist, whose art incorporates aspects of performance, video, sound, and 2D and 3D mediums, including painting, sculpture, and collage. His art explores the interplay between individuals’ ideals and aspirations can be represented through objects, textures, or symbols. Adams’ work is deeply influenced by Deconstructivist philosophies, shown through his tendencies to layer artistic media, materials, and images, in order to achieve the multi-textured constructions for which he is known. His series "Deconstruction Worker," which captures human figures in both constructed and deconstructed states, highlights his interest in the urban dweller's experience. His works are exhibited in collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

Derrick Adams

b. 1970

Party Guest 2 (We Came to Party and Plan Series)

2021

Derrick Adams is a multidisciplinary African American artist, whose art incorporates aspects of performance, video, sound, and 2D and 3D mediums, including painting, sculpture, and collage. His art explores the interplay between individuals’ ideals and aspirations can be represented through objects, textures, or symbols. Adams’ work is deeply influenced by Deconstructivist philosophies, shown through his tendencies to layer artistic media, materials, and images, in order to achieve the multi-textured constructions for which he is known. His series "Deconstruction Worker," which captures human figures in both constructed and deconstructed states, highlights his interest in the urban dweller's experience. His works are exhibited in collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

Derrick Adams

b. 1970

Kings on Vacation (Diptych)

2021

Derrick Adams is a multidisciplinary African American artist, whose art incorporates aspects of performance, video, sound, and 2D and 3D mediums, including painting, sculpture, and collage. His art explores the interplay between individuals’ ideals and aspirations can be represented through objects, textures, or symbols. Adams’ work is deeply influenced by Deconstructivist philosophies, shown through his tendencies to layer artistic media, materials, and images, in order to achieve the multi-textured constructions for which he is known. His series "Deconstruction Worker," which captures human figures in both constructed and deconstructed states, highlights his interest in the urban dweller's experience. His works are exhibited in collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

Derrick Adams

b. 1970

Boy on Swan Float

2019

Derrick Adams is a multidisciplinary African American artist, whose art incorporates aspects of performance, video, sound, and 2D and 3D mediums, including painting, sculpture, and collage. His art explores the interplay between individuals’ ideals and aspirations can be represented through objects, textures, or symbols. Adams’ work is deeply influenced by Deconstructivist philosophies, shown through his tendencies to layer artistic media, materials, and images, in order to achieve the multi-textured constructions for which he is known. His series "Deconstruction Worker," which captures human figures in both constructed and deconstructed states, highlights his interest in the urban dweller's experience. His works are exhibited in collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

Jennifer Bartlett

b. 1941

At Sea, Japan

1980

Jennifer Bartlett was a prominent American artist celebrated for her large-scale abstractions that were arranged using grids sometimes spanning large walls. Her artwork seamlessly integrated aspects of minimalism with emotive expression, as epitomized in her installation "Rhapsody" (1975-1976). Her work often featured seemingly ordinary subjects such as a white chair or garden trees, but she structured and analyzed these in such a way that created a sense of deeper significance. Through her artistic exploration, she questioned conventional forms and dimensions, even pondering the nature of a painting's edges. Her works are housed in collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Walker Art Center, the National Gallery, and the Tate Gallery. She passed away on July 25, 2022, in Amagansett, NY, leaving behind a legacy of innovative and provocative art.

Jacob Lawrence

1917 - 2000

The Library

1978

was a notable African-American painter, whose works primarily portrayed the African American experience. His signature work, the Migration Series (1940–1941), is a

60-panel suite of paintings that illustrates the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the North between the two World Wars. A protege of sculptor Augusta Savage, Lawrence pioneered a novel aesthetic approach known as Dynamic Cubism, which he described as reflecting the "hard, bright, brittle" qualities of Harlem, rather than European influences. At the age of 23, he became the first black artist ever to be represented by a New York gallery. Lawrence's works are housed by the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Romare Bearden

1911 - 1988

Memories, Mecklenburg County

1979

Celebrated as an artist, writer, social worker, and human rights activist, Romare Bearden, of African, Cherokee, and Italian descent, garnered his most notable recognition for his innovative paintings, photomontages, and collages of black culture. Influential figures from the Harlem Renaissance, like Langston Hughes and Duke Ellington, frequently graced Bearden's childhood home, imprinting their influence on his artistic journey. As he matured, Bearden founded both the Harlem Culture Council and the Black Academy of Arts, solidifying his impactful contributions. His remarkable achievements received further acclaim in 1972 with his appointment to the National Institute of Arts and Letters, and in 1984 when he was honored with the Mayors Award for Art and Culture. Bearden's artistic legacy endures, residing within the prestigious collections of renowned institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, among other distinguished venues.