Abstract Expressionism and Film

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Abstract Expressionist New York, Abstract Expressionism and Film comprises six programs of short and feature-length films, all drawn from the Museum’s collection, that were both developed simultaneously with and inspired by the radical formal innovations of the New York School. While Abstract Expressionism was primarily associated with painting, filmmakers concurrently embraced an abstracted cinematic language that employed technological innovations and personal expression via nonrepresentational imagery. Using visual subject matter that was wholly abstract, filmmakers could create works that, while occasionally interpreted as apolitical and “safe,” actually utilized complex structures and challenged viewers to reexamine the narrative basis—and in some cases the very materiality—of film. Full screening details will be available soon.

If you would like to reproduce an image of a work of art in MoMA's collection, or an image of a MoMA publication or archival material (including installation views, checklists, and press releases), please contact Art Resource (publication in North America) or Scala Archives (publication in all other geographic locations).

All requests to license audio or video footage produced by MoMA should be addressed to Scala Archives at firenze@scalarchives.com. Motion picture film stills or motion picture footage from films in MoMA's Film Collection cannot be licensed by MoMA/Scala. For licensing motion picture film footage it is advised to apply directly to the copyright holders. For access to motion picture film stills please contact the Film Study Center. More information is also available about the film collection and the Circulating Film and Video Library.