Nan Montgomery

Nan Montgomery (b. 1935) has constructed bold geometric paintings since the 1950s, subverting the systems of hard edge abstraction in measures both subtle and apparent. Drawing on motifs from Color Field painting, Abstract Expressionism, and Minimalism for over 65 years, Montgomery resolves oppositions and uses color intuitively as a form of communication and a method to achieve unity.

Growing up in the town of Walpole, New Hampshire, Montgomery spent her childhood drawing, later studying printmaking at the Boston Museum School, and eventually transferring to Yale for a Painting BFA. There, she studied with German American artist, designer, and educator Josef Albers, renowned for his iconic Homage to the Square series that delved into monochromatism and visual perception. The artist community of Washington, DC also shaped her formal direction. She studied with abstract sculptor Anne Truitt at the Corcoran, a notable artist whose towering monochromatic columns are emblematic of Minimalism. Painter Gene Davis was another important professor for Montgomery at the Corcoran, an artist best known for his role in the Washington Color School of the 1950s-1970s. Painter Leon Berkowitz’s feedback at the school likewise held notable impact, guiding her painterly direction throughout her career.