Lynne Drexler

American, 1928-1999

Lynne Drexler was a distinctive figure in postwar American painting, known for vibrant abstractions that merge the formal rigor of Abstract Expressionism with the saturated color of Fauvism and Post-Impressionism. A student of Hans Hofmann and Robert Motherwell, she developed a visual language built on rhythmic brushwork and layered color structures, often composed of small, deliberate marks.

Born in Newport News, Virginia, Drexler began painting early and pursued formal studies in New York, where she became part of the second generation of Abstract Expressionists. Deeply influenced by Hofmann’s theories of spatial tension and Motherwell’s mentorship, she brought clarity and conviction to her practice. In the early 1970s, she relocated to Monhegan Island, Maine, where the surrounding landscape and shifting light became integral to her work—abstract in composition, but grounded in place.

Although her work was not widely recognized during her lifetime, renewed interest has brought significant attention to her career. Recent international exhibitions and expanded scholarship have affirmed her position within 20th-century American art. Her paintings are now held in major museum collections, valued for their formal strength, distinctive palette, and lasting connection personal environment.