Stuart Davis
(1892-1964)

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Stuart Davis is known as an important painter of the American modernist movement. Davis created his own style of pop art, using colorful forms inspired by jazz music.

Stuart was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to an artistic family. Davis’s father worked as the art director of the Philadelphia Press and his mother was a visual artist, focusing on sculpture. Davis’s interest in art was nurtured from an early art, and Philadelphia provided a rich setting to study painting. Davis studied under the modernist artist, Robert Henri, known as a leader of The Eight and the Ashcan School. As an instructor, Henri promoted the idea of pushing the boundaries of painting in new and exciting directions. Davis proved to be a receptive pupil, and exhibited in the historical and controversial Armory Show in 1913. The exhibit is known as a pivotal event in American modern art.

After the Amory Show, Davis became committed to developing his work as a modernist painter. Davis continued his work and studies in Paris, known as an origin of cubist art and modern thinking. Davis developed his painting style, using abstract shapes and forms to reference contemporary American culture. Davis’s art also referenced advertisements by using graphic colors and text. Davis was greatly inspired by jazz, and tried to create a visual parallel in his painting. To Davis, jazz was not only music but also the “American scene”.

Davis’s work was well received by the public, and became particularly popular in New York. Davis showed his work under the representation of Edith Gregor Halpert at a downtown gallery in New York City.

Stuart Davis’s paintings have become iconic images in American culture. Davis was incredibly successful in creating a unique and vibrant style that simultaneously defined an era in American life. Davis’s paintings are now in numerous museums in the United States and around the world. Do you think you own a painting by Stuart Davis? Contact us. We are the experts on Stuart Davis.