Indian Space Painters

The Indian Space Painters were a group of mid-century American modernist artists who were influenced by Native American art, European surrealism and Abstract Expressionism.^[1] They were primarily active in the post WWII years during the late 1940s and early 1950s.^[2]

Many of their works were inspired by the motifs of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast combined with non-objective forms. Their formal language was primarily organic rather than geometric. Colors were usually laid down in flat patterns in a bright palette that emphasized figure-ground relationships.^[2] Other indigenous influences include the art of the Puebloan peoples of American Southwest, as well as Peruvian textiles.^[3]

Artists who practiced the style include Gertrude Barrer (1921–1997), Peter Busa (1914–1985),^[4] Howard Daum (1978–1988), Steve Wheeler,^[5] Robert Barrell,^[6] Will Barnet^[6] Oscar Collier, Helen De Mott, Ruth Lewin, Lilian Orloff,^[7] among others.^[2][8]