BiographyJack Whitten was an African American abstract painter who spent over five decades developing a singular, inventive approach to the canvas, using experimental tools and processes—from squeegees to Afro combs—to create dense, textured works he described as "quantum paintings." His work bridged Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, and a deeply personal engagement with Black American history and global culture. He received a National Medal of Arts in 2015, and his influence on contemporary abstract painting has grown significantly since his death in 2018.
