Pat Steir

Education

Steir was born in 1940 in Newark, New Jersey, and currently lives and works in New York City. She attended the Pratt Institute in New York from 1956 to 1958, and Boston University College of Fine Arts from 1958 to 1960. She then returned to Pratt, receiving a BFA degree in 1962. Both institutions have since honored Steir: Boston University in 2001 with a Distinguished Alumni Award, Pratt in 1991 with an honorary doctorate.

Early years

In 1962, the year she graduated from art school, Steir was included in a group show at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1964, her work was in a show called “Drawings” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Her first one-person exhibition was at the Terry Dintenfass Gallery, New York, in 1964. During that time, she worked in New York as an illustrator and a book designer (1962–1966). Between 1966–1969, Steir was an art director at Harper & Row publishing company, New York. Around 1970 she became friends with Sol LeWitt, Lawrence Weiner, and other conceptual artists, and she made a trip to New Mexico to visit Agnes Martin.

She rose to fame in the 1970s with monochromatic canvases of roses and other images that were X-ed out. The artist explained, “I wanted to destroy images as symbols. To make the image a symbol for a symbol. I had to act it out―make the image and cross it out. …no imagery, but at the same time endless imagery. Every nuance of paint texture worked as an image.” Nothing from 1974, in the collection of the Honolulu Museum of Art, is an example of this phase of the artist's work.

Mature work

Pat Steir's first museum exhibition, in 1973 at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., marks the beginning of a career dense with painting exhibitions. She has also made installation work (shown at Documenta IX, Kassel, Germany, in 1992) and is an important printmaker. Crown Point Press began publishing her prints in 1977 and in 1983 the Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, gave her a print and drawing exhibition. A print retrospective at the Cabinet des Estampes in Geneva traveled to the Tate Gallery in London, England. Steir has had one-person painting exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum in 1984 and the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York in 1987, both of which traveled to other museums, many in Europe.

Starting in the late 1980s, Steir produced dripped, splashed and poured works, embracing the element of chance. The artist relates this work to the 8th and 9th century Chinese Yipin "ink-splashing" painters. With influence and mentorship from John Cage and Agnes Martin. Studying ink splash in the harmony of nature and humanity, inspired by Tibetan philosophy. Wind and Water is an example of this phase of her work. In 1989–92 Steir began limiting her colors to monochrome. In 1995, the monograph Pat Steir was published by the American art critic Thomas McEvilley, chronicling the artists' life work up to that point. In November 1999, Steir was the subject of an Art In America cover feature, "Watercourse Way," by critic G. Roger Denson, claiming that Steir's lyrical waterfall paintings attest to her long-standing interest in Asian art and thought, particularly the ancient Chinese philosophy of Daoism, with Steir's literal and figurative motif embodying the flow of water (or in her case paint) down a surface.

Describing Steir's 2010 installation at Sue Scott Gallery, The Nearly Endless Line, consisting of a white line snaking around the gallery's blue-black walls, lit with blue light, Sharon Butler writes in The Brooklyn Rail: "Walking through the darkened space, observers find themselves inside Steir’s painting, where they become part of the illusion she has created with paint and light." Pat Steir said "I wanted to be a great artist, again not in slang in someone who is great. But in the fantastic, reaching the soul of other people."

Awards

Steir recently received a 2008 Pratt Institute Alumni Achievement Award "nominated by their schools and fellow alumni for exceptional achievements since graduation from Pratt."

In May 2016, Franklin Furnace announced in its online newsletter Goings On that FF alumn painter Pat Steir had been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

The artist is represented by Lévy Gorvy Gallery in New York and London.

Exhibitions

Steir has exhibited at the following:

In 1964,Terry Dintenfass Gallery, New York

In 1969, Bienville Gallery, New Orleans

In 1971, Graham Gallery, New York

In 1972, Douglass College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey

Paley & Lowe, Inc., New York

In 1973, Balls State University Art Gallery, Muncie, Indiana

The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington D.C

Max Protech Gallery, Washington D.C

In 1975, Fourcade, Droll, Inc., New York

John Doyle Gallery, Paris

State University of New York, Oneonta

Galerie Farideh Cadot, Paris

In 1976 The Art Gallery of the University of Maryland, College Park

Morgan Thomas Gallery, Santa Monica

Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles

White Gallery, Portland State University, Oregon

Xavier Fourcade, Inc., New York

In 1977,Carl Solway Gallery, Cincinnati

In 1978, Art School for Children, Birmingham, Alabama

Droll/Kolbert Gallery, New York

Galeria Marilena Bonoma, Bari Italy

In 1978 Galerie Farideh Cadot, Paris

In 1979 Galerie Farideh Cadot Paris

In 1980, Droll/Kobert Gallery, New York,

Galerie d'Art Contemporain,

Geneva, Galerie Farideh Cadot,

Paris, Max Protech Gallery, New York

In 1981, Galeria Marilena Bonomo, Bari, Italy

Galerie Fraideh Cadot, Paris

Marianne Deson Gallery, Chicago

Bell Gallery, List Art Center, Brown University, Providence

Max Protech Gallery, New York

Crown Point Press Gallery, Oakland.

Galleriet, Lund, Sweden

In 1982, Eason Gallery, Santa Fe

Galerie Annemarie Verma, Zurich

Galerie Carideh Cadot, Paris

Nina Freudenheim Gallery, Buffalo

In 1983, Spencer Museum of Art University of Kansas, Lawrence.

Crown Point Press, New York

Fuller Goldeen Gallery, San Francisco

Galeria Marilena Bonomo, Bari, Italy

Gloria Luria Gallery, Bay Harbor Islands, Florida

The Harcus Gallery, Boston

McIntosh/Drysdale Gallery, Huston

Max Protech Gallery, New York

Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston

In 1984, Van Straaten Gallery, Chicago

Galleriet, Lund, Sweden

Signet Art Gallery, St. Louis

Nina Freudenheim Gallery, Buffalo

Galerie Bara Farber, Amsterdam

Real Art Ways, Hartford

The Brooklyn Museum, New York.

In 1985, Cincinnati Art Museum. "New Drawings"

Dolan/Maxwekk Gallery, Philadelphia. "Pat Steir: Major Prints and Drawings."

Galerie Eric Franck, Geneva

Fuller Goldeen Gallery, San Francisco

Philadelphia College of Art. "Pat Steir: Prints/Printmaking"

Harry de Jur Playhouse, Henry Street Settlement, New York

In 1986, Fuller Goldeen Gallery, San Francisco

John C. Stoller &Co., Minneapolis

Castellia Uptown, New York

The Harcus Gallery, Boston

Crown Point Press, New York

Kuhlenschmidt/Simon Gallery, Los Angeles

In 1987, The New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York

M. Knoedlr & Co., New York

Galerie Eric Franc, Geneva

Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh, Amsterdam. "Pat Stier: Paintings 1981-84"

Centre d'Art Contemorian, Geneva

Galleria Alessandra Bonoma, Rome

Kunstmuseum, Bern. "Pat Stier: Paintings and Drawings."

The Baltimore Museum of Art. "Drawing Now: Pat Steir."

In 1988, M. Knoedler & Co., New York

Galeria Marilena, Bonoma, Bari, Italy

Victoria Miro Gallery, London

Cabinet Des Estampes, Musee D'Art et d'Historie, Geneva. "Pat Steir: Prints, 1976-1988"

Crown Point Press, San Francisco and New York

In 1989, The Harcus Gallery, Boston

Massimo Audiello Gallery, New York

Galeria Marilena Bonomo, Bari, Italy

Fuller Gross Gallery, San Francisco

Galerie Eric Franck, Geneva

TansArt Exhibitions, Cologne

In 1990, University of South Florida Art Galleries Tampa. "Pat Steir Waterfalls."

Galerie Montenay, Paris

Musee d/Art Contemporian, Lyons "Pat Steir"

New Jersey Center for the Visual Arts, Summit. "Pat Steir: Ways of Seeing"

Dennis Ochi Gallery, Sun Valley and Boise, Idaho

Robert Miller Gallery, New York. "Pat Steir: Waterfall Paintings."

Galerie Montenay, Paris

Victoria Miro Gallery, London

In 1991, Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery, University of Regina, Saskatchewan. "Self Portrait"

Linda Cathcart Gallery, Santa Monica

Galerie Franck & Schulte, Berlin

Galerie Albert Baronian, Brussels

In 1992, Centre National d'Art Contemporain de Grenoble/ "La Ligne du Coeur"

Robert Miller Gallery, New York. "Pat Steir: Elective Affinities"

In 1993, Galerie Franck & Schulte, Berlin

Galleria Alessandra Bonomo, Rome

Guild Hall Museum, East Hampton, New York "Pat Steir."

In 1994, Anders Tornberg Gallery, Lund, Sweden. "Pat Steir."

Jaffe Baker Blau, Boca Raton Florida

Dennis Ochi Gallery, Sun Valley and Boise, Idaho

In 1995, Robert Miller Gallery, New York

In 1963, The High Museum of Art, Atlanta

In 1964, Finch College Museum of Art, New York

The Museum of Modern Art, New York. "Drawings"

Philadelphia Museum of Art

In 1966 Terry Dintenfass Gallery, New york

In 1969 Graham Gallery, New York

in 1970 French& Co., New York

1971 Glauber Poons Gallery, Amsterdam

Graham Gallery, New York

Paley & Lowe, Inc., New York. "Three Paintings"

In 1972 The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Art Lending Service, The Museum of Modern Art, New York

Bard College, Annadale-on-Hudson, New York

Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati. "Alternative Landscapes."

The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C "Seven Young Artists: Works on Paper"

Fine Arts Center, University of Rhode Island, Kingston. "Three Painters"

Indianapolis Museum of Art. "Painting and Sculpture Today, 1972."

Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. "40th Annual Exhibition."

In 1973, Cusack Gallery, Houston. "Drawings"

Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. "Six Visions."

The Museum of Modern Art, New York

New York Cultural Center. "Women Choose Women."

Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. "Biennial Exhibition: Contemporary American Art."

In 1974, The Civic Center Museum, Philadelphia Civic Center. "Women's Work: American Art. 1974"

Indianapolis Museum of Art. "Painting and Sculpting Today, 1974"

Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston. "Joan Snyder,Pat Steir."

Loretta Yarlow Fine Arts., Ltd., Toronto. "Inaugural Exhibition"

The Saidye Bronfman Centre, Montreal. "Twenty-eight Painters of the New York Avant-Garde."

Downtown Branch, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. "People and Places"

In 1975, The American Federation of Arts, New York (organizer). "Recent Drawings."

Fourcade, Droll, Inc., New York

Gallery 210, University of Missouri, St. Louis. "American Women Printmakers."

Max Protech Gallery, Washington, D.C "Art That Involves Words."

Downtown Branch, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. "Twenty-five Stills"

In 1976, Indianapolis Museum of Art. "Painting and Sculpture Today, 1976."

Marion Koogler McNay Art Institute, San Antonio, Texas. "American Artists, A Celebration."

Max Protech Gallery, Washington, D.C

Philadelphia College of Art Gallery. "Private Notations: Artists' Sketchbooks II."

In 1977, Archer M. Huntington Art Gallery, University of Texas, Austin, "new in the Seventies."

The Art Institute of Chicago. "Drawings of the Seventies."

Madison Art Center, Wisconsin "Recent works on Paper by American Artists."

Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, "A Survey of Prints, 1970-1977."

New York State Women's Meeting, Albany. "Women in Art: Working Papers."

San Diego Museum of Art. "Invitational American Drawing Exhibition."

Weatherspoon Art Gallery, University of North Carolina, Greensboro. "Art on Paper, 1977." Catalogue

Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. "1977 Biennial"

In 1978, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo. "American Painting of the 1970s."

Janus Gallery, Los Angeles. "Drawings Explorations, 190-1978"

Touchstone Gallery, New York. "Beyond the Canvas: Artists' Books and Notations"

University Art Museum, University of California, Santa Barbara. "Contemporary Drawings, New York."

In 1979, University Art Museum, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. "Lithography: A Sense of Scale"

The New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York. "The 1970s: New American Painting."

Union Carbide Building, Inner City Scholarship Fund, New York. "Art from Corporate Collections"

Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. "Decade in Review: Selections from the 1970s- Permanent Collection"

In 1980, The Brooklyn Museum, New York. "American Drawings in Black and White, 1970-1980."

Max Protetch Gallery, New York

Nina Freudenheim Gallery Buffalo. "Drawings."

Walker Art Center, Minneapolis. "Artist and Printer:Six American Print Studios."

Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. "American Painting of the Sixties and Seventies: The real, the Ideal, and the Fantastic-Selections from the Whitney Museum of American Art"

In 1981, Art Lending Service, The Museum of Modern Art, New York. "A penthouse Aviary"

Citta di Noto, Siracusa, Italy. "Aljofre Barrocco."

Clark-Benton Gallery, Santa Fe. "New York News"

Gloria Luria Gallery, Bay Harbor Islands, Florida. "Pat Steir, Denise Green"

Jacksonville Art Museum and University of South Florida Art Galleries"

Nina Freudenheim Gallery, Buffalo. "Paper Work"

The Patrick Gallery, Austin. "Rigors"

Sardoni Art Gallery, Wilkes College, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. "A range of Contemporary Drawings"

Weatherspoon Art Gallery, University of North Carolina, Greensboro. "Art on Paper, 1981."

Davison Art Center, Wesleyan University, Middleton, Connecticut. "No Title: The Collection of So Le Witt."

In 1982, The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield, Connecticut. "Post-Minimalisms"

Crown Point Press, Oakland. "Representing Reality: Fragments from the Image Field- An Exhibition of Etchings and Woodblock Prints by Gunter Brus, Francesco Clemente, Joel Fisher, Robert Kushner, Pat Steir, William T. Wiley."

DuBose Galleries, Houston. "Flowers and Gardens in American Painting"

Fuller Goldeen Gallery, San Francisco. "Paintings"

John C.Stoller &Co., Minneapolis. "new American Painting III"

Madison Art Center, Wisconsin. "New American Graphics 2"

Mulavane Art Center, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas. "Shea Gordon, Pat Steir, and Denise Green"

Musee d'Art Contemporain, Paris. "L'Art baroque"

Vassar College Art Gallery, Poughkeepsie, New York. "Geometric Art at Vassar"

In 1983, A Space, Toronto. "Sex and Representation"

Barbara Mathes Gallery, New York. "Inaugural Exhibition"

Centre Culturel le Parvi, Tarbes, France

Gallerie Annemarie Verna, Zurich. "When Art Becomes Book, When Books Become Art"

The Harcus Gallery, Boston. "Ornamentalism"

Impressions Gallery, Boston. "Tulip Time"

Musee d'Art de Toulon France. "Recent Acquisitions"

Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. "ARC Exhibition"

Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design, Providence. "Collector's Choice"

The Museum of Modern Art, New York. "Recent Acquisitions"

The New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York. "language, Drama, sources and Vision."

The Port of History Museum at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia. "Printed by Women: A National Exhibition of Photographs and Prints."

Collections

The Honolulu Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City), the Museum of Modern Art (New York City), the National Gallery of Art (Washington, D. C.), the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis),the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York City), the Tate Gallery (London) and the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York City) are among the public collections holding artwork by Pat Steir. She is represented by Lévy Gorvy in New York.