...Intrigued, I began searching for the artist and digging into her background and artistic journey, only to uncover a fascinating detail: she had become a member of the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors (NAWA) in 1926 when she was just twenty-three and then known as Ethel Kremer.
Like many historical National Association of Women Artists (NAWA) members, Ethel Kremer Schwabacher achieved significant recognition during her lifetime, later overlooked by art history. Though not officially part of the Abstract Expressionist movement, she was deeply embedded in New York’s art world from the 1940s through the 1960s. As a student and close friend of Arshile Gorky, she maintained strong connections with leading artists, including Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman. The prestigious Betty Parsons Gallery, a primary venue for avant-garde art, represented her work, hosting five solo exhibitions and including her in fourteen group shows. Beyond her achievements in painting, Schwabacher distinguished herself as a writer. Her 1957 biography of Gorky offered unique artist-to-artist insights, particularly emphasizing his Surrealist influence on Abstract Expressionism. She continued her literary contributions with other works, including a 1974 book on John Charles Ford.
