Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism and keep our reporting and criticism free and accessible to all. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today. Although frequently introduced as a student of Mark Rothko and Clyfford Still, abstract expressionist painter Lawrence Calcagno was his own master.
He was gay at a time when homosexuality was illegal in the United States, not to mention socially taboo. But he managed to achieve career success despite those prejudices, holding his first solo show in 1955 at the Martha Jackson Gallery. Jackson, a champion of avante-garde art, had famously shown works from Willem de Kooning’s Woman (1950–53) series earlier that year.
Calcagno’s show was similarly a hit, capturing the attention of Time Magazine , which noted that the San Francisco native’s paintings were “saturated with rich California earth tones and the shifting, fog-ridden horizons of the Pacific Coast.” Sign up for our free newsletters to get the latest art news, reviews, and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily The latest stories every weekday morning Weekly Editors' picks of the best stories each week Opportunities Monthly list of opportunities for artists, and art workers View our full list of free newsletters .
Calcagno’s career blossomed from this first exhibition: He would go on to hold a total of 80 solo shows throughout his career, and .
