Critic
The Artist Who Tried to Sink His Own Market and Almost Succeeded
A new documentary explores the complicated, uncompromising life and work of abstract expressionist Clyfford Still.
Clyfford Still.
Courtesy of Kino Lorber
Clyfford Still was not an easy man.
He called the paintings of fellow abstract expressionist Barnett Newman “pathetic” and referred to influential art critic Clement Greenberg as “a small and lecherous man.” He destroyed one of his own canvases by cutting a chunk out of it after a collector dared to disobey his wishes. He turned down sales, rejected exhibitions, and forbade reproductions.