Bradley Walker Tomlin

Biography

Bradley Walker Tomlin was an American painter associated with the New York School and the Abstract Expressionist movement. He is best known for his carefully composed abstract paintings, which combined geometric forms, calligraphic marks and subtle arrangements of colour.

Born on August 19, 1899, in Syracuse, New York, Tomlin developed an interest in art at an early age. He studied painting at Syracuse University from 1917 to 1921, graduating with a degree in fine arts. After completing his studies, he moved to New York City and began working as a commercial illustrator. He later travelled to Europe, where he studied at the Académie Colarossi and the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris.

During the 1930s, Tomlin taught at Sarah Lawrence College and became increasingly involved in modern art. His early paintings showed influences of Cubism and Surrealism, but he gradually developed a distinctive abstract style. In the late 1940s, he became associated with the Abstract Expressionists and participated in the influential Ninth Street Show in 1951.

Notable Works

Some of his notable paintings include Burial (1943), Maneuver for Position (1947), Number 3 (1948), Number 9: In Praise of Gertrude Stein (1950), Number 1 (1951) and Number 11 (1952–53).

Death and Legacy

Bradley Walker Tomlin died on May 11, 1953, in New York City, at the age of 53. Despite his relatively short career, he made an important contribution to Abstract Expressionism. His paintings are remembered for their refined compositions, rhythmic patterns and thoughtful exploration of colour and form.