18 Facts About Carl Holty

Carl Robert Holty was a German-born American abstract painter.

Carl Holty's father was German, gaining citizenship in the United States in 1906.

Carl Holty's grandfather introduced him to art by taking him to visit local art galleries.

Around the age of twelve, Carl Holty began taking lessons with a local German painter.

Carl Holty attended Milwaukee University School, graduating high school within two and a half years.

Carl Holty returned to Milwaukee in 1923 and opened a portrait painting studio.

In 1925 Carl Holty married and honeymooned in Europe, living there for the next ten years, first in Munich and then Switzerland.

In Switzerland Mrs Carl Holty sought treatment for her tuberculosis, dying in 1930.

Carl Holty moved to Paris that year, before returning to the United States in 1935 and living in New York City.

Carl Holty taught at Brooklyn College from 1950 until 1970.

In 1926, while living in Munich, Carl Holty originally planned to attend the Royal Academy, only to train under Hans Hofmann.

Carl Holty's work was published in the group's magazine and became associated with Cubism and Neo-Plasticism.

Vytlacil invited Carl Holty to participate in discussions which led to the formation of the American Abstract Artists, which Carl Holty would eventually come to chair, retaining his membership until 1944.

Carl Holty continued to explore shapes and form, and by the 1960s contours had disappeared from his work, being replaced with subtle toned-down colors.

Carl Holty served as artist in residence at Georgia State University, University of Florida, University of California at Berkeley, University of Wisconsin and the Corcoran School of Art.

Carl Holty wrote a book, with Romare Bearden, titled The Painter's Mind, published in 1969.

In 1977 the Carl Holty Papers were donated to the Archives of American Art by Charles Byrne.

Carl Holty's artworks including his prints are among the first by a Wisconsin artist to come to grips with the tide of abstract art that spread from Europe to America at the beginning of the 20th century.