"WRITING IS A KIND OF SELF-REVELATION THAT GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO BECOME. IT ACTS AS A CATALYST. IT DOES ALL A LINE CAN DO IN TERMS OF NOTING AND CONNOTING."
Raymond Hendler began his career in Paris in 1949 and played a crucial role in the Abstract Expressionist movement upon returning to New York. Known for his close relationships with key figures like Franz Kline and Willem de Kooning, Hendler was a pivotal member of the New York art scene. His early work featured tightly-wound linear webs, but by the late 1950s, he shifted to a personal language of abstract pictograms.
In the 1970s, Hendler's style evolved to include clear lines and vibrant symbols on white grounds, which he referred to as “graffiti” before the term became popular. His work, characterized by its joyful and animated marks, prefigured movements such as Pop Art, Minimalism, and Neo-Expressionism. Critics praised his ability to convey both energy and clarity in his non-representational art.
Hendler was represented by the Rose Fried Gallery, a key player in showcasing many prominent European artists. Throughout his career, he maintained a commitment to non-objectivity and innovative pattern-making, drawing comparisons to Matisse and Léger. After retiring from teaching, Hendler continued to live and work on Long Island until his death in 1998.
Raymond Hendler's work is represented in prestigious collections such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; as well as the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.