Jack Tworkov
Jack Tworkov (1900-1982) born in Biala Podlaska, Russian Empire, in 1900. Tworkov emigrated to the United States (1913) with his mother and younger sister, Janice Biala. He studies English at Columbia University (BA ‘23) with the intent to become a writer but after experiencing the paintings by Cézanne and Matisse for the first time, becomes determined to study art. Begins study at the National Academy of Design with Ivan Olinsky followed by briefly studying with Charles Hawthorne (’23). That year he hickhiked his way to Provincetown to meet Edwin Dickinson. Returning to Provincetown (‘24), he studied with Ross Moffett and meets Karl Knaths with whom he shares a love of Cézanne, and who introduced him to the work of Kandinsky, Klee, and Miró. Studies at the Art Students League (1925-26) with Guy Pène du Bois and Boardman Robinson. Becomes a United States citizen (June 28, 1928) and exhibits with New England Society of Contemporary Art and Provincetown Art Association. He was an artist at the forefront of American painting for seven decades. He forged a disciplined aesthetic through techniques, transitions, and variations on compositions that score an artistic career which continues today to be avidly discussed and celebrated—one constant being Tworkov’s gestural “mark.” A selection of recent solo exhibitions: “Jack Tworkov: The Accident of Choice, The Artist at Black Mountain College 1952,” Black Mountain College Museum + Art Center, Asheville, NC, June 17-September 17 (publication), 2011; “Jack Tworkov,” Barbara Edwards Contemporary, Toronto, February 10-April 7, 2012; “Jack Tworkov,” David Klein Gallery, Birmingham, MI, February 2-March 16, 2013 (catalogue); “Jack Tworkov: Drawings 1965-1970,” David Klein Gallery, Birmingham, MI, February 8-March 8, 2013 (catalogue); “Jack Tworkov: Constellation of a Picture, Paintings from 1965-1969,” ACME Fine Art, Boston, MA, May-June, 2013 (catalogue); “Jack Tworkov: The Figurative Drawings,” Valerie Carberry Gallery, Chicago, IL, November 2013 (brochure); “Jack Tworkov: Beyond Black Mountain, Selected Works from 1952-1982,” (curated by Jason Andrew), Asheville Art Museum, March 27-June 14, 2015; “Jack Tworkov: Mark and Grid, Paintings 1931-1982,” Alexander Gray Associates, New York, NY, September 3-October 24, 2015 (download catalogue); “Post Era: A Recent History; Homages to Jack Tworkov and Claire Falkenstein,” Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, January 23 April 4, 2016.
Jack Tworkov (1900-1982) born in Biala Podlaska, Russian Empire, in 1900. Tworkov emigrated to the United States (1913) with his mother and younger sister, Janice Biala. He studies English at Columbia University (BA ‘23) with the intent to become a writer but after experiencing the paintings by Cézanne and Matisse for the first time, becomes determined to study art. Begins study at the National Academy of Design with Ivan Olinsky followed by briefly studying with Charles Hawthorne (’23). That year he hickhiked his way to Provincetown to meet Edwin Dickinson. Returning to Provincetown (‘24), he studied with Ross Moffett and meets Karl Knaths with whom he shares a love of Cézanne, and who introduced him to the work of Kandinsky, Klee, and Miró. Studies at the Art Students League (1925-26) with Guy Pène du Bois and Boardman Robinson. Becomes a United States citizen (June 28, 1928) and exhibits with New England Society of Contemporary Art and Provincetown Art Association. He was an artist at the forefront of American painting for seven decades. He forged a disciplined aesthetic through techniques, transitions, and variations on compositions that score an artistic career which continues today to be avidly discussed and celebrated—one constant being Tworkov’s gestural “mark.” A selection of recent solo exhibitions: “Jack Tworkov: The Accident of Choice, The Artist at Black Mountain College 1952,” Black Mountain College Museum + Art Center, Asheville, NC, June 17-September 17 (publication), 2011; “Jack Tworkov,” Barbara Edwards Contemporary, Toronto, February 10-April 7, 2012; “Jack Tworkov,” David Klein Gallery, Birmingham, MI, February 2-March 16, 2013 (catalogue); “Jack Tworkov: Drawings 1965-1970,” David Klein Gallery, Birmingham, MI, February 8-March 8, 2013 (catalogue); “Jack Tworkov: Constellation of a Picture, Paintings from 1965-1969,” ACME Fine Art, Boston, MA, May-June, 2013 (catalogue); “Jack Tworkov: The Figurative Drawings,” Valerie Carberry Gallery, Chicago, IL, November 2013 (brochure); “Jack Tworkov: Beyond Black Mountain, Selected Works from 1952-1982,” (curated by Jason Andrew), Asheville Art Museum, March 27-June 14, 2015; “Jack Tworkov: Mark and Grid, Paintings 1931-1982,” Alexander Gray Associates, New York, NY, September 3-October 24, 2015 (download catalogue); “Post Era: A Recent History; Homages to Jack Tworkov and Claire Falkenstein,” Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, January 23 April 4, 2016.