Abstract Expressionist: Mark Rothko
Why Mark Rothko?
I have discovered who Mark Rothko was when I was creating "about me" post. What could I tell Hubpages readers about me? I want to come up with something nice and original, so I searched for famous people from Daugavpils, Latvia (formerly USSR) and I have discovered that Mark Rothko is from my hometown. Yay!
I can't believe it! Rothko is from Daugavpils. I knew and studied about his artwork, but somehow I skipped his life story.
Last month, I went on holidays to Latvia (currently living in Ireland) and was amazed to hear that my city is going to have own "Mark Rothko Art Centre". Great news indeed!
So who is Mark Rothko?
Fact 1
Mark Rothko's "Orange, Red, Yellow" is the most expensive contemporary art at $87 million.
Mark Rothko - and his biography
- Mark Rothko was an American painter of Jewish Latvian descent.
- Hometown: Daugavpils now (Dvinsk), Latvia (then Russian Empire)
- Born on September 25, 1903 - Died on February 25, 1970.
- Considered to be one of the most famous of postwar American artists.
- Emigrated from Russia (Latvia now) to the U.S. when was 10 years old.
- Rothko's early paintings were quite realistic and showed some recognizable objects such as people, buildings, and landscapes.
- Later were interested in mythology and his works were similar to to Surrealist paintings.
- His best-known works, a number of which are on very large canvases, involve the placement of large areas of melting colors.
Piece of art for your house - posters
I'm not an abstractionist
"I'm not an abstractionist. I'm not interested in the relationship of color or form or anything else. I'm interested only in expressing basic human emotions: tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on."
Mark Rothko
Mini Gallery - paintings by Rothko
Click thumbnail to view full-size
Fact 2
All 836 paintings have been catalogued by art historian David Anfam in his book Mark Rothko: The Works on Canvas
Mark Rothko Art Centre (shot by A.Pimenov)
News from Rothko's hometown
Mark Rothko Art Centre opened it's doors on April 24th, 2013. It will be the only one place in Eastern Europe where will be possible to see the original works of Mark Rothko.
Art centre is located in Daugavpils, Latvia on the grounds of old Daugavpils fortress. Visitors can see original paintings of Rothko given by his family for a period of 6 years. You can visit Rothko Silent Room, video hall, cultural and historical expositions. Center will also have a living quarters for artist and space to exhibit their own work.
- Art news
DAUGAVPILS, Latvia (Reuters) - Modernist painter Mark Rothko's hometown in Latvia devoted a new centre to the late artist's work on Wednesday.The Mark Rothko Arts Centre opened in the eastern town of - Mark Rothko's homecoming - FT.com
Nicolai Poliakoff (Coco the Clown) was born there - as was Joseph Rosen, described as the Talmudic genius of his time. In 1903 Marcus Yakovlevich Rothkowitz was also born in the same city, Daugavpils in eastern Latvia. We know him rather better as
Rothko's link list
- Mark Rothko at Tate Modern | Art and design | guardian.co.uk
See a selection of the work from the Rothko exhibition at Tate Modern. Very good visula presentation of his work at Tate. - NGA | Mark Rothko
From National Gallery of Art, Washington - MoMA | The Collection | Mark Rothko (American, born Russia (now Latvia). 1903-1970)
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is a place that fuels creativity and provides inspiration. Its extraordinary art collection includes modern and contemporary art.
Fact 3
Rothko died by suicide on February 25, 1970 by taking antidepressants and slashing his arms.
His paintings are so simple.... Do you think he is an art genius?
