Bluhm is an American artist most famous for his abstract expressionist style. Before his service in World War II with the US Air force, Bluhm studied architecture at the then Armour (now Illinois) Institute of Technology. Upon his return from the war, he moved to Florence, Italy to study art at the Academia de Belle Arte, and then at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris.

It was in Europe where Bluhm began to move away from traditional landscape works, to his abstract style. While the abstract expressionism world was exploding in New York, Bluhm’s work while he was in Europe was consistent with the movement. His work is known for big brush strokes and visible paint drops.

Bluhm moved to New York in 1956. While he quickly became embedded in the art scene, he was critical of what he believed to be the growing commercialization of art. His work received a significant amount of critical acclaim.  

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Norman Bluhm
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