From a High Place

Bol

An immigrant from a small Armenian village in eastern Turkey, Arshile Gorky (c 1900-1948) made his way to the US to become a painter in 1920. This title tells the story of Gorky's life and career. "One of the finest biographies of an artist I have ever read."—John Ashbery An immigrant from a small Armenian village in eastern Turkey, Arshile Gorky (c. 1900-1948) made his way to the U.S. to become a painter in 1920. Having grown up haunted by memories of his alternately idyllic and terrifying childhood - his family fled the Turks' genocide of Armenians in 1915 - he changed his name and created a new identity for himself in America. As an artist, Gorky bridged the generation of the surrealists and that of the abstract expressionists and was a very influential figure among the latter. His work was an inspiration to Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko, among others. Matthew Spender illuminates this world as he tells the story of Gorky's life and career.

Bol Partner

An incisive portrait of Armenian-born panter Arshile Gorky describes his youth in Armenia, escape from the 1915 Turkish massacre, early years in America, struggle to find a place in the art world, complex relationship with students, dealers, and patrons, and more. 12,500 first printing.