The second volume in the Focal Points series considers the work of American abstract painter Ad Reinhardt. Part of the group of artists who became known as Abstract Expressionists, Reinhardt made work that would prove influential. Believing in a philosophy of what he called ‘art-as-art’,he used his writing and satirical cartoons to advocate for abstract art. In this volume, Robert Storr discusses Reinhardt’s painting, his comics, and his slide lecture series or ‘non-happenings.'How can we interpret the work of contemporary artists? First released in 2024, Focal Points is a book series of essays, articles and reviews by acclaimed curator and critic Robert Storr. Expertly edited by art historian and curator Francesca Pietropaolo, and richly illustrated, it lends Storr’s illuminating insights into an artist’s practice and way of thinking across recent decades. Brilliantly scholarly, accessible and engaging, Focal Points offers fresh interpretations of the varied territory of modern and contemporary art.
