"I THINK PAINTING IS CONCERNED WITH PAINTING... I THINK PAINTING IS AN END IN ITSELF. AND I’M INTERESTED ONLY IN THE END ITSELF. "
John Opper, a pioneering figure in the New York School, was an influential American painter whose career spanned over six decades. Born in Chicago in 1908 and later moving to Cleveland, Opper's early fascination with art led him to study at the Cleveland School of Art and Western Reserve University.
His exposure to modernist works at the Pittsburgh International Exposition and mentorship under Hans Hofmann sparked his interest in abstract art. By the mid-1930s, Opper had immersed himself in New York's vibrant art scene, contributing significantly to the American Abstract Artists group and participating in the WPA Easel Division.
Opper's artistic evolution saw a shift from abstract gestural works influenced by nature to a refined, pure form of abstraction. He believed that art should transcend mere representation to evoke profound aesthetic experiences. His association with prominent artists such as Milton Avery, Adolph Gottlieb, and Mark Rothko enriched his creative approach. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Opper balanced teaching positions across the United States with his artistic pursuits, eventually settling into the purely abstract style that won him critical acclaim.
The late 1950s marked a period of significant transformation in Opper's work, characterized by simplified color palettes and interlocking planes. Critics like Dore Ashton and Hilton Kramer praised his ability to create dramatic intensity and elegant compositions through color and form. Opper continued to innovate, incorporating Color Field sensibilities and refining his gestural techniques to produce visually compelling and contemplative works.
John Opper's legacy is preserved in prestigious museum collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, all in New York, New York. He was also the recipient of numerous award, such as a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Jimmy Ernst Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
