3 things to know about artist Lee Krasner

The latest exhibition at the Barbican celebrates the life and work of artist Lee Krasner, a key figure in American art and a pioneer of the Abstract Expressionism movement.

The exhibition, which is the first major presentation of her work in Europe for more than 50 years, tells the story of the formidable artist, whose importance has often been overshadowed by her marriage to Jackson Pollock.

To celebrate the Barbican’s summer exhibition, here are 3 things to know about the artist:

Her failures sometimes sparked her most significant work
After an unsuccessful show, Krasner ripped up every drawing to create her first works of collage.

Her ‘Little Image’ series was arguably her break through series
Alongside large scale pieces, the Barbican show features work from Krasner’s 1940s ‘Little Image’ series – a title she gave to the series that she made in a small bedroom in her and Pollock’s home.

Krasner took over her husband’s art studio when he died
After Pollock’s death, Krasner began to suffer from insomnia. She started painting at night in her husband’s old studio, using only shades of umber and white as she disliked working with colour under artificial light. The paintings she made in this period, described as her ’Night Journeys’ can be see on view at the Barbican.

Lee Krasner: Living Colour is on at the Barbican Centre until September 1st, 2019. For more information and tickets, visit the Barbican website.