Back to In the Studio: Postwar Abstract Painting
The Museum of Modern Art

In the Studio: Postwar Abstract Painting

Take an in-depth, hands-on look at materials, techniques, and approaches to making abstract paintings. Through studio demonstrations and gallery walkthroughs, you’ll form a deeper understanding of what a studio practice means and how ideas develop from close looking. Readings and other resources provide a broader cultural, intellectual, and historical context around the era when these artists were active. The artists featured in the course—Willem de Kooning, Yayoi Kusama, Agnes Martin, Barnett Newman, Jackson Pollock, Ad Reinhardt, and Mark Rothko—serve as points of departure for your own abstract paintings. Learners who wish to participate in the optional studio exercises may need to purchase art supplies. A list of suggested materials is included in the first module.

Status: Creativity
Status: Aesthetics
BeginnerCourse27 hours

Featured reviews

KG

5.0Reviewed Apr 17, 2019

I have thoroughly enjoyed doing this course. It has proved useful in boosting my confidence in studying, as well as providing me with inspiration for my own work, both in painting and ceramics.

DD

5.0Reviewed Sep 10, 2023

Excellent course with a good combination of artists and meaningful details of their work. Truly enjoyed learning about this period at my own speed. Thank you for having it available for no cost.

SS

5.0Reviewed Sep 26, 2021

Informative, clear and interesting analysis of key Postwar American Abstract Painters. Relevant and accessible reference material and module quizzes that reinforce key concepts and ideas. Thanks.

MM

5.0Reviewed May 19, 2018

I enjoyed every class, as an artist from Egypt, It was great to have an experince to study about NY art school with MOMA's videos. I hope MOMA will issue more and more courses later.

AA

5.0Reviewed Oct 4, 2019

Well-designed course; interesting material, including optional readings. The studio demonstrations and accompanying exercises were very helpful to my own art work. Excellent overall; thank you.

BB

5.0Reviewed Oct 2, 2020

Even though I'm not an oil painter for many reason, I really enjoyed adapting my acrylic paint. Even though I don't use oil paint I really enjoyed learning so much about the artists

DJ

5.0Reviewed Jun 22, 2020

This is the best online art course I have ever done. The practical element of it was invaluable. Thank you MoMA and Corey D'Augustine for putting it together and making it available for free!

AD

5.0Reviewed Apr 29, 2018

This course was very well structured, and the instructor's personal and often humorous approach was informative and engaging, covering very complex subject matter in an accessible way.

M

5.0Reviewed Apr 17, 2021

Cory D'Auguestine is so adept in both his analysis and executions in the studio. I wish there were more courses like this. Cory Introduced working in the manner of artists that I always admired.

PC

5.0Reviewed Dec 31, 2019

This course gave me a new outlook on abstract painting. The "In the Studio" videos with Corey d'Augustine were illuminating and it was great fun to create my own abstract paintings.

ET

5.0Reviewed Jun 9, 2020

Fantastic! Cory was both educational and pleasant to watch. His instruction was concise but not dogmatic, and he really helped me appreciate some of the artists I was less familiar with!

YR

5.0Reviewed Feb 25, 2021

This course provided great tools for examining and understanding the artists covered. I'm able to take these tools and the lexicon I learned and apply them to other artists and their practices.

All reviews

Showing: 20 of 656

Callie Gauzer
5.0
Reviewed Feb 25, 2019
Amy
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Donald Bruce Charles
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Luis G Galvez
2.0
Reviewed Mar 27, 2018
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5.0
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Niki Banffy-Nesbitt
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Arvydas Gaiciunas (Retne)
5.0
Reviewed Jan 10, 2019