Helen Frankenthaler

Helen Frankenthaler (1928–2011) was a pioneering American abstract expressionist painter.
She is best known for her invention of the “soak-stain” technique, using diluted paint on unprimed canvas.
This method created luminous, flowing fields of color, influencing the Color Field movement.
Frankenthaler’s work bridged Abstract Expressionism and later minimalist tendencies.
She rose to prominence in the 1950s, a time when few women gained recognition in the art world.
Her compositions often evoke landscapes, emotions, or pure abstraction without strict form.
Frankenthaler left a lasting legacy as a fearless innovator in modern American painting.