Biography

Howard Mehring (1931–1978) was an influential American painter associated with the Washington Color School, a movement known for its emphasis on color field painting. Born in Washington, D.C., Mehring was a contemporary of artists like Kenneth Noland and Morris Louis, and he played a significant role in the development of abstract expressionism in the region. He studied under Kenneth Noland at Catholic University, where he developed a style characterized by loose handling of paint and a transparent use of magna paint, an acrylic medium. Mehring's work evolved over time, moving from all-over patterns on canvas to more structured compositions. He experimented with cutting and reassembling canvases, which led to his creation of hard-edge paintings. One of his notable works, 'Chroma Double' from 1965, is part of the Honolulu Museum of Art's collection. His contributions to the Washington Color School were recognized by art critic Clement Greenberg, who included Mehring in the 1964 traveling exhibition 'Post-painterly Abstraction.' Mehring's innovative approach to color and form has made his work a subject of interest for collectors and art historians alike.