Charlotte Park was a pivotal figure in Abstract Expressionism, though her significant contributions gained wider recognition only later in her career. Known for her vibrant and dynamic canvases, Park's work received renewed attention following a 2010 exhibition. Critics like Roberta Smith of The New York Times praised Park as “a natural painter and a gifted colorist,” noting her work's parity with that of her male and female peers celebrated in major art institutions. Despite her notable achievements, Park's career was often overshadowed by the prominence of her husband, James Brooks, and she remained relatively low-profile in the art world.
Born in Concord, Massachusetts, Park studied at the Yale School of Fine Art before moving to New York City in 1945. There, she joined the circle of Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner, establishing her artistic roots in the emerging Abstract Expressionist community. Initially working in monochrome, Park’s style evolved in the mid-1950s to incorporate vivid color and complex compositions, blending painting and drawing to create dynamic, organic forms. Her work from this period includes explorations of collage and influences from Piet Mondrian's Neo-Plasticism.
Throughout the 1950s, Park was actively involved in the art scene, exhibiting at notable venues like the Whitney Museum of American Art and Tanager Gallery. However, in the 1960s, she began to retreat from public exhibitions, a trend many women artists of the time followed. Park returned to the spotlight with a solo show at Elaine Benson Gallery in 1973, and her work has since been featured in various exhibitions, including a 2013 solo show at the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center.
Park’s work is represented in prestigious collections, including the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, New York; the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut; and the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, New York.