Abstract Art: A Global History

Revised edition with sixteen new contemporary artists from six continents, redefining abstract art for our time. "Abstract art is always rooted in experience of the real world." So begins art historian Pepe Karmel's bold exploration of the origins and evolution of abstract art. Traditional histories have focused on formal innovations and a core group of European and North American artists, often treating abstraction as a series of "isms" detached from real-world experience. Karmel moves beyond established movements, shifting his attention to subject matter and content rather than solely color and form. Taking a global perspective, he explores how artists have used abstract imagery to convey personal, social, and political experiences. This wide-ranging study foregoes standard chronology to explore themes as diverse as bodies, landscapes, cosmologies, architectures, and signs. Alongside detailed analysis of established figures including Piet Mondrian, Hilma af Klint, Jackson Pollock, and Anni Albers, Karmel highlights lesser-known artists such as Wu Guanzhong, Laura Lim, and Odili Donald Odita, offering a truly inclusive view of abstract art.