Group a: Legacy (1944-1969)

It all started when…

Group A: Legacy (1944-1969) is the last exhibition in Group A's 75th Anniversary Celebration.

 This exhibition is the first to focus specifically on the artists of the Abstract Group (Pittsburgh, 1944-1969), now known as Group A (Pittsburgh, 1969-present). Over 40 works have been selected from private collections. Paintings that were radical for the time, aluminum modernist wall sculptures, plexiglass kinetic sculptures, found art and innovative ceramic work are among the many fresh and compelling artworks in this exhibit. We believe it to be the second (first was American Abstract Artists,NYC, 1936-present) and only other group in the country established specifically to promote abstract art.

The wide variety of work on display was selected from private collections, and chosen over a period of three years. Without private collectors and foundations ( such as the Irving and Aaornel deRoy Gruber Foundation) this exhibition would not have been possible.

The Abstract Group was established in 1944 to promote Abstract Art. Pittsburgh had been slow to accept Abstraction. While paintings by Balcomb Greene, Russell Twiggs and others might win awards in local exhibitions, abstract works were often relegated to a separate gallery. Local publications, with some exceptions, were hostile to the point of hysteria.

Founders Samuel Rosenberg, Russell Twiggs, Robert Lepper and Balcomb Greene were all on the faculty of The Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) Tireless innovators, organizers and creators, they were committed to advancing the new art movements that had begun in pre- and post-war Europe.

While Group A: Legacy (1944-1969) includes work by all the founders and many of the most notable members, the exhibition is not a comprehensive one. Also, Group A, members from 1970 to the present have made significant contributions to local and national art scenes.