Early Life and Education
- Born: October 18, 1906, St. Louis, Missouri
- Family moved to Dallas, Texas in 1916
- Studied art at Southern Methodist University (1922-1924)
- Private lessons with James A. Waddell and Martha Simkins in Dallas
- Moved to New York City in 1926
- Studied at the Art Students League under Boardman Robinson and Kimon Nicolaides
- Worked as a commercial artist to support himself
The WPA Years and Early Murals
- Active in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Art Project from 1936-1942
- Painted three murals for the WPA, demonstrating social realist style.
- Flight (1940-1942): A significant mural at La Guardia Airport's Marine Air Terminal, depicting the history of aviation. It was the largest WPA mural and later restored after being painted over.
- Friendships with Jackson Pollock and Philip Guston during this period
Abstract Expressionist Period: Style and Development
- Served as a combat artist in the U.S. Army (1942-1945)
- Returned to New York City in 1946, reconnected with Pollock and Krasner
- Shifted towards Abstract Expressionism, influenced by Surrealist principles
- Developed a unique staining technique: Experimenting with the bleed of paste through canvas.
- Early works showed influences of Synthetic Cubism.
- Palette initially featured browns, grays, blacks and vivid colors.
- Later work incorporated larger forms, broader strokes, and simpler compositions using acrylics.
- Often used numbers and letters to identify paintings, incorporating nonsense syllables as titles (e.g., *Pask*, *Burwak*, *Jondol*).
Major Exhibitions and Recognition
- First solo exhibition at the Peridot Gallery in New York City (1949)
- Participated in the historic Ninth Street Exhibition (1951) – a key event in Abstract Expressionism.
- Featured in exhibitions such as Twelve Americans and New American Painting at the Museum of Modern Art.
- Documenta, Kassel, West Germany (1959).
- John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship (1969)
Legacy and Historical Significance
- Considered a first-generation Abstract Expressionist painter.
- Known for his innovative staining techniques and lyrical abstraction.
- His work is held in prominent collections including the Art Institute of Chicago, The Museum of Modern Art, Tate Gallery, and National Gallery of Art.
- Brooks's artistic journey reflects the evolution of Abstract Expressionism and his willingness to experiment with new approaches to painting.
- Died on March 9, 1992, in East Hampton, New York.
