Pat Steir Life & Legacy (1938-2026) - Career, Achievements &...

Education

Pat's Graduates from Pratt Institute

Graduated

New York City, New York, U.S.

Pat Steir completed her formal art education, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Pratt Institute. This period was crucial for her development, as she engaged with influential artists and ideas that would shape her experimental approach to painting and printmaking throughout her career. Her time at Pratt, following studies at Boston University, provided a strong foundation for her future artistic endeavors.

1962

Education

Pat's Graduates from Pratt Institute

Graduated

New York City, New York, U.S.

Pat Steir completed her formal art education, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Pratt Institute. This period was crucial for her development, as she engaged with influential artists and ideas that would shape her experimental approach to painting and printmaking throughout her career. Her time at Pratt, following studies at Boston University, provided a strong foundation for her future artistic endeavors.

1964

Career

Pat's First Solo Exhibition

Exhibited Work

New York City, New York, U.S.

Just two years after graduating, Pat Steir held her first one-person exhibition at the Terry Dintenfass Gallery in New York. This early solo show marked a significant step in her emerging career, establishing her presence in the competitive New York art scene. It followed her participation in a group exhibition at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta in 1962, signaling the beginning of her public recognition.

1964

Career

Pat's First Solo Exhibition

Exhibited Work

New York City, New York, U.S.

Just two years after graduating, Pat Steir held her first one-person exhibition at the Terry Dintenfass Gallery in New York. This early solo show marked a significant step in her emerging career, establishing her presence in the competitive New York art scene. It followed her participation in a group exhibition at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta in 1962, signaling the beginning of her public recognition.

Career

Pat's First Solo Museum Exhibition

Exhibited Work

Washington, D.C., U.S.

Pat Steir's first solo museum exhibition took place at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. This significant milestone marked a new level of institutional recognition for her work, showcasing her evolving artistic practice to a broader audience. It solidified her reputation as an innovative painter and printmaker, leading to further exhibition opportunities.

1973

Career

Pat's First Solo Museum Exhibition

Exhibited Work

Washington, D.C., U.S.

Pat Steir's first solo museum exhibition took place at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. This significant milestone marked a new level of institutional recognition for her work, showcasing her evolving artistic practice to a broader audience. It solidified her reputation as an innovative painter and printmaker, leading to further exhibition opportunities.

1976

Career

Pat's Co-Founds Printed Matter and Heresies

Founded Organization

New York City, New York, U.S.

In the 1970s, Pat Steir became a founding board member of Printed Matter, a non-profit organization dedicated to artists' books, and the landmark feminist journal Heresies: A Feminist Publication on Art and Politics. Her involvement in these initiatives highlighted her commitment to artistic discourse and advocacy, particularly for women artists, and positioned her as a key figure in the avant-garde movement.

1976

Career

Pat's Co-Founds Printed Matter and Heresies

Founded Organization

New York City, New York, U.S.

In the 1970s, Pat Steir became a founding board member of Printed Matter, a non-profit organization dedicated to artists' books, and the landmark feminist journal Heresies: A Feminist Publication on Art and Politics. Her involvement in these initiatives highlighted her commitment to artistic discourse and advocacy, particularly for women artists, and positioned her as a key figure in the avant-garde movement.

Career

Pat's Begins "Waterfall" Series

Created Iconic Work

New York City, New York, U.S.

In the late 1980s, Pat Steir began her iconic "Waterfall" series, a body of work that would define much of her later career. These paintings, characterized by pouring and splashing thinned paint onto canvases, represented a profound engagement with gravity, chance, and the natural world. This innovative technique, influenced by Eastern philosophy, allowed Steir to create works that were both abstract and deeply expressive.

1980

Career

Pat's Begins "Waterfall" Series

Created Iconic Work

New York City, New York, U.S.

In the late 1980s, Pat Steir began her iconic "Waterfall" series, a body of work that would define much of her later career. These paintings, characterized by pouring and splashing thinned paint onto canvases, represented a profound engagement with gravity, chance, and the natural world. This innovative technique, influenced by Eastern philosophy, allowed Steir to create works that were both abstract and deeply expressive.

1982

Achievement

Pat's Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship

Won Award

Pat Steir received the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship for Fine Arts, a testament to her significant contributions and potential in the visual arts. This highly regarded award provided her with crucial support and recognition, allowing her to further develop her artistic explorations and solidify her standing among contemporary artists.

1982

Achievement

Pat's Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship

Won Award

Pat Steir received the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship for Fine Arts, a testament to her significant contributions and potential in the visual arts. This highly regarded award provided her with crucial support and recognition, allowing her to further develop her artistic explorations and solidify her standing among contemporary artists.

Achievement

Pat's Receives Honorary Doctorate from Pratt Institute

Received Honorary Degree

Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

Pat Steir was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Art from her alma mater, the Pratt Institute. This honor recognized her outstanding achievements and enduring influence in the art world since her graduation. It celebrated her innovative artistic practice and her significant contributions to contemporary painting and printmaking.

1991

Achievement

Pat's Receives Honorary Doctorate from Pratt Institute

Received Honorary Degree

Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

Pat Steir was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Art from her alma mater, the Pratt Institute. This honor recognized her outstanding achievements and enduring influence in the art world since her graduation. It celebrated her innovative artistic practice and her significant contributions to contemporary painting and printmaking.

2016

Career

Pat elected to American Academy of Arts and Letters

Elected Member

New York City, New York, U.S.

Pat Steir was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, one of the nation's highest honors for artists. This prestigious recognition acknowledged her lifelong dedication to artistic excellence and her profound impact on American culture. Her election cemented her place among the most distinguished figures in the arts.

2016

Career

Pat elected to American Academy of Arts and Letters

Elected Member

New York City, New York, U.S.

Pat Steir was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, one of the nation's highest honors for artists. This prestigious recognition acknowledged her lifelong dedication to artistic excellence and her profound impact on American culture. Her election cemented her place among the most distinguished figures in the arts.

Career

Pat's Major Commissions at Barnes Foundation and Hirshhorn Museum

Commissioned Work

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. / Washington, D.C., U.S.

In 2019, Pat Steir unveiled two significant commissions: "Silent Secret Waterfalls" at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia and "Color Wheel" at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. These monumental projects showcased her continued exploration of the "Waterfall" series on a grand scale, reaffirming her status as a leading contemporary artist capable of captivating large audiences with her unique vision.

2019

Career

Pat's Major Commissions at Barnes Foundation and Hirshhorn Museum

Commissioned Work

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. / Washington, D.C., U.S.

In 2019, Pat Steir unveiled two significant commissions: "Silent Secret Waterfalls" at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia and "Color Wheel" at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. These monumental projects showcased her continued exploration of the "Waterfall" series on a grand scale, reaffirming her status as a leading contemporary artist capable of captivating large audiences with her unique vision.

2021

Career

Pat's First Survey Exhibition in China

Exhibited Work

Shanghai, China

The Long Museum in Shanghai presented the first major survey exhibition of Pat Steir's work in China. This international exhibition offered a comprehensive overview of her four-decade engagement with abstraction, calligraphic gesture, and color theory, introducing her influential practice to a new and expansive audience. It underscored her global reach and the universal appeal of her artistic philosophy.

2021

Career

Pat's First Survey Exhibition in China

Exhibited Work

Shanghai, China

The Long Museum in Shanghai presented the first major survey exhibition of Pat Steir's work in China. This international exhibition offered a comprehensive overview of her four-decade engagement with abstraction, calligraphic gesture, and color theory, introducing her influential practice to a new and expansive audience. It underscored her global reach and the universal appeal of her artistic philosophy.

Memorial

Pat Steir

Life & Legacy

Pat's Graduates from Pratt Institute

Pat's Graduates from Pratt Institute

Pat's First Solo Exhibition

Pat's First Solo Exhibition

Pat's First Solo Museum Exhibition

Pat's First Solo Museum Exhibition

Pat's Co-Founds Printed Matter and Heresies

Pat's Co-Founds Printed Matter and Heresies

Pat's Begins "Waterfall" Series

Pat's Begins "Waterfall" Series

Pat's Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship

Pat's Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship

Pat's Receives Honorary Doctorate from Pratt Institute

Pat's Receives Honorary Doctorate from Pratt Institute

Pat elected to American Academy of Arts and Letters

Pat elected to American Academy of Arts and Letters

Pat's Major Commissions at Barnes Foundation and Hirshhorn Museum

Pat's Major Commissions at Barnes Foundation and Hirshhorn Museum

Pat's First Survey Exhibition in China

Pat's First Survey Exhibition in China

Recent Celebrity Deaths

Life & Legacy

Pat's Graduates from Pratt Institute

Pat's Graduates from Pratt Institute

Pat's First Solo Exhibition

Pat's First Solo Exhibition

Pat's First Solo Museum Exhibition

Pat's First Solo Museum Exhibition

Pat's Co-Founds Printed Matter and Heresies

Pat's Co-Founds Printed Matter and Heresies

Pat's Begins "Waterfall" Series

Pat's Begins "Waterfall" Series

Pat's Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship

Pat's Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship

Pat's Receives Honorary Doctorate from Pratt Institute

Pat's Receives Honorary Doctorate from Pratt Institute

Pat elected to American Academy of Arts and Letters

Pat elected to American Academy of Arts and Letters

Pat's Major Commissions at Barnes Foundation and Hirshhorn Museum

Pat's Major Commissions at Barnes Foundation and Hirshhorn Museum

Pat's First Survey Exhibition in China

Pat's First Survey Exhibition in China