What makes a painting unforgettable when it shows no faces, no landscapes and no story you can point to? In this documentary-style episode, we meet 7 of the greatest living abstract painters, the masters of contemporary abstract art whose work you could never mistake for anyone else's.

From Bridget Riley's dazzling Op Art to Julie Mehretu's explosive layered cityscapes, from Mark Bradford's paper maps of Los Angeles to Katharina Grosse's spray-painted buildings, this video explores the lives, techniques and ideas of the artists who changed how we see painting. You'll discover how Howardena Pindell turned a painful childhood memory into circles of beauty, how Mary Weatherford brought real neon light into her canvases, and how Tauba Auerbach folds a flat surface into a mind-bending illusion.

Whether you're an art lover, an art student, a collector or a painter looking for inspiration, this is your guide to the most visually unique abstract artists working today.

This is Part 1 of our abstract painters series. Part 2, featuring the new wave of abstract artists, is coming soon.

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💬 Which artist inspired you most? Tell us in the comments!

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
01:00 Bridget Riley
04:15 Howardena Pindell
07:29 Mark Bradford
10:48 Katharina Grosse
13:50 Mary Weatherford
17:01 Julie Mehretu
20:26 Tauba Auerbach
23:37 Outro

All artworks shown belong to the artists and their estates and are used for commentary and education.

#AbstractArt #ContemporaryArt #AbstractPainting