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abstract artist

abstract artist

1 4.2
An artist who uses shapes and colors instead of real people or places
  • noun
  • /ˈæbstrækt ˈɑːrtɪst/
translation icon : artista abstracto
  • Harold is recognized as an accomplished abstract artist whose unique use of color captivates viewers.

Examples

  • I thought I knew all the abstract artists in New York... and I don't know Jackson Pollock.

  • Many of the designs, patterns, and colors in the rock slabs rival those of the abstract artists.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Abstract artists produce something that, in itself, stops our usual referring back to an "other" object or state of feeling.

    Blog text (23)
  • Hood Museum of Art Director Michael Taylor says Ellsworth Kelly is widely considered the most important living abstract artist.

    Blog text (2)
  • The designs and colors within many rocks rival the paintings of abstract artists, and can often be reminiscent of familiar objects.

    Academic text (1999)
  • While this grounding may be obvious in the case of representational artists, with abstract artists the connection can be slippery.

    Blog text (22)
  • He explored and mastered the surrealist forms and techniques used by the abstract artists of his time.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Several weeks after his visit to the atelier of the Dutch abstract artist, Calder made his first abstract constructions.

    Academic text (1998)
  • At the gallery, visitors admired the innovative works of the abstract artist, whose creations evoked deep emotions.

  • The annual art fair featured a stunning collection of pieces from a renowned abstract artist, showcasing bold shapes and vibrant colors.

Synonyms

abstractionist
vsabstract artist
1 9.9

An artist who paints shapes and colors instead of real people or things

is the same in meaning but used as a broader phrase beyond painters

Antonyms

representationist
  • Specialized
9.1

An artist who paints people or scenes that look like real life

How Abstract

nonrepresentational
  • Specialized
1 8.9
abstract artist
1 4.2
stylized
11 5.9
representationist
  • Specialized
9.1
realist
4 5.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

abstract + artist

The noun phrase is directly compositional: 'abstract' (non-representational, focused on shapes/colors) modifies 'artist' (a person who makes art), so the meaning 'an artist who makes abstract art' is predictable from the parts. This is a common, cross-linguistic modifier+noun pattern and would be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Abstract artist comes from the word abstract, which means 'not trying to show real things'. Imagine a painter who uses colors, shapes, or lines to show a feeling instead of painting a real person or place, and that's why an abstract artist makes art from shapes and colors rather than realistic pictures.