One of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Milton Avery (1885 – 1965) is celebrated for his luminous paintings of landscapes, figures and still lifes, which balance distillation of form with free, vigorous brushwork and lyrical colour.

This title accompanies Victoria Miro’s first exhibition by Avery since announcing its representation of the Milton Avery Estate (Victoria Miro, Mayfair, 7 June – 29 July 2017).

It is also the first exhibition of the artist’s work in London for 10 years, featuring paintings and works on paper from throughout his career, ranging in date from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Included are pairings of Avery’s oils and associated works on paper, in addition to works created as a result of his sole trip to Europe in 1952, when he visited London, Paris and the South of France. Many of the works on display have never been exhibited outside of the US.

Included in the publication is an essay by Edith Devaney, Contemporary Curator at the Royal Academy of Arts and co-curator of the recent, Abstract Expressionism exhibition (Guggenheim Museum Bilbao), examining the development of Avery’s career and his influence within the canon of American art.

‘Avery spanned, and to an extent became the link between, two significant twentieth century national movements: American Impressionism and Abstract Expressionism. His highly sophisticated understanding of colour was passed on, in particular, to Rothko and Newman.’ – Edith Devaney