Edward Corbett

A Chicago native, Edward Corbett painted abstract expressionist paintings that were influenced by the places he spent his life living and traveling. In his paintings, he often gave them names based on the places he found inspirational; however, they were seldom literal representations. A characteristic of his work was the nuances in color and surface effects.  Essentially, the works of Corbett are poetic landscapes.

Edward Corbett: A Biography and Overview

In 1937, Corbett enrolled in the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Upon his return to San Francisco, MacAgy offered him a teaching position at CSFA, alongside the likes of Elmer Bischoff, David Park, Hassel Smith, Clay Spohn, Mark Rothko, Richard Diebenkorn, and Clyfford Still. It was at this point that he began creating the acclaimed black paintings. UC Berkeley also hired him as an instructor of drawing and painting classes where Sam Francis studied. As a teacher of art, he moved to Taos in 1951. Two years later, he went to Mount Holyoke College, where he spent nine years.  Provincetown, Massachusetts, Taos, and New Mexico, were his summer escapes, and he later moved to Washington D.C.

Ed Corbett: Notable Works 

A group show titled 15 Americans featuring Ed Corbett’s work was held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Among the other famous artists represented in the exhibition were Jackson Pollock, Rothko, and Still. The exhibition remains a major influence on the twentieth century, providing a lot of people with an opportunity to discover an array of abstract expressionists.  As part of this catalog, he penned the infamous statement, “I intend my work as poetry.” While the exhibition generated much publicity, he moved to Massachusetts for a teaching position and spent his summers in Taos and Provincetown, Massachusetts. 
 

The Legacy of Ed Corbett

The works of Edward Corbett are in many private and public collections around the world. In his term, President Barack Obama displayed Washington, DC November 1963 III at the White House residence. 
 

Edward Corbett Artworks for Sale on Bidsquare

Discover and purchase Edward Corbett's artworks for sale on Bidsquare. Check out our collection of paintings, and prints, by the artist, as well as fine art.
 

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