Born in 1904, Clyfford Still's early work in the 1930s reflected his environment: rugged farm hands and laborers toiling away during the Great Depression.
Clyfford Still farmworkers art —
Born in 1904, Clyfford Still's early work in the 1930s reflected his environment: rugged farm hands and laborers toiling away during the Great Depression.
Peter Harholdt/Clyfford Still Estate
Still's art would quickly morph into a style later known as abstract expressionism, as evident in this 1937 piece titled "PH-343."
The art of Clyfford Still —
Still's art would quickly morph into a style later known as abstract expressionism, as evident in this 1937 piece titled "PH-343."
Peter Harholdt/Clyfford Still Estate
Still, here in a self-portrait from 1940, is credited with being among the first artists to develop expressionist abstraction not based on geometry.
The art of Clyfford Still —
Still, here in a self-portrait from 1940, is credited with being among the first artists to develop expressionist abstraction not based on geometry.
Peter Harholdt/Clyfford Still Estate
In the late 1930s and early 1940s in pieces such as "PH-313" (1942), the artist starts to move "closer to his abstract expressionist style," says Dean Sobel, director of the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver.
The art of Clyfford Still —
In the late 1930s and early 1940s in pieces such as "PH-313" (1942), the artist starts to move "closer to his abstract expressionist style," says Dean Sobel, director of the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver.
Peter Harholdt/Clyfford Still Estate
In 1951, Still was becoming a force in the art world, earning money and fame. He informed his art dealer "quite politely and with all respect that he is going to remove himself from the commercial aspect of the art world," Sobel says.
Clyfford Still, 1951 —
In 1951, Still was becoming a force in the art world, earning money and fame. He informed his art dealer "quite politely and with all respect that he is going to remove himself from the commercial aspect of the art world," Sobel says.
Erwin Blumenfeld Estate
Still wrote this letter to his agent, Betty Parsons, explaining why he was withdrawing from the commercial art scene.
Clyfford Still letter —
Still wrote this letter to his agent, Betty Parsons, explaining why he was withdrawing from the commercial art scene.
Jim Spellman/CNN
Despite walking away from fame, Still had no intention of giving up on his art. His goal was to focus more on the art itself in pieces such as "1957-J No. 2 (PH-401)" and not be distracted or derailed by money and fame.
The art of Clyfford Still —
Despite walking away from fame, Still had no intention of giving up on his art. His goal was to focus more on the art itself in pieces such as "1957-J No. 2 (PH-401)" and not be distracted or derailed by money and fame.
Peter Harholdt/Clyfford Still Estate
Still moved to rural Maryland in 1961, where he continued to paint, spend time with his children and pursue other passions. In 1978, he was diagnosed with cancer. He refused to sell his paintings and became committed to keeping the bulk of his art together.
Clyfford Still, circa 1970s —
Still moved to rural Maryland in 1961, where he continued to paint, spend time with his children and pursue other passions. In 1978, he was diagnosed with cancer. He refused to sell his paintings and became committed to keeping the bulk of his art together.
Sandra Still Campbell/Clyfford Still Estate
Toward the end of his career, Still's art started to become even more abstract -- objects lost their shape entirely, as seen in this 1976 work titled "PH-1023."
The art of Clyfford Still —
Toward the end of his career, Still's art started to become even more abstract -- objects lost their shape entirely, as seen in this 1976 work titled "PH-1023."
Peter Harholdt/Clyfford Still Estate
In his will, Still agreed to give away all of his artwork to an American city that would build a permanent museum to house it. Last year, Denver opened the Clyfford Still Museum, which was allowed to sell four of his paintings to help finance construction. The paintings sold for $114 million.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver —
In his will, Still agreed to give away all of his artwork to an American city that would build a permanent museum to house it. Last year, Denver opened the Clyfford Still Museum, which was allowed to sell four of his paintings to help finance construction. The paintings sold for $114 million.
Raul J. Garcia/Clyfford Still Museum