Label Type
Object LabelLabel
Milton Avery (1885–1965)
Standing Nude, 1941
Milton Avery was a leading American modernist known for his masterful use of color and simplified forms. After establishing himself in New York and developing a distinctive style based on flattened shapes and harmonious color relationships, a major heart attack in 1949 dramatically altered his life and work. Seeking a warmer climate during his recovery, Avery and his wife, Sally Michel, spent the winters of 1949–50 and 1950–51 at the Research Studio in Maitland, Florida, as Bok Fellows. Too weak to paint outdoors or manage large canvases, Avery turned to monotype printmaking, a technique introduced to him by fellow artist Boris Margo. Margo’s experimental approach encouraged Avery to embrace the medium’s spontaneity and economy of form. During his stay, Avery produced hundreds of monotypes, simplifying compositions into essential shapes and color relationships. These experiments profoundly influenced his later paintings, contributing to the luminous color fields and distilled forms that define his celebrated late career.