2020
Artist Katherine Borkowski-Byrne, who works with experimental techniques and primarily in oil, describes painting as “a purely visual language that speaks to the eyes as music speaks to the ears.” This philosophy is evident in all of her work. Whether providing a brash cacophony or a somber harmony, each of her richly textured abstract paintings resonates with a distinct visual "melody" all its own.
After seeing a painting by Dutch-American artist Willem de Kooning — the de facto leader of the New York avant-garde art movement of the 1950s known as Abstract Expressionism — Borkowski-Byrne found herself on the path to a career as a painter.
And while she has also since cited the work of painters Henri Matisse and Wassily Kandinsky as having been influences on various projects of hers — a work that centered on the latter had Borkowski-Byrne painting with long-haired brushes attached to the end of a mop handle — the artist’s inspiration comes from many outside sources. She typically allows herself to dissolve into the process, casting aside whatever her initial concept might have been and letting her paintings take on lives of their own.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Borkowski-Byrne earned her BFA in 1986 from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Massachusetts. During her time at the school, she was honored to receive an award for independent work in which celebrated American painter Frank Stella was one of the judges.
Since her days at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Borkowski-Byrne has gone on to become a prolific and notable award-winning artist. She is an associate member of the Fountain Street Gallery in Boston. She continues to create melodious abstract works from her studio in North Adams, Massachusetts.
Find original Katherine Borkowski-Byrne paintings on 1stDibs.
"Out to Sea", Abstract, Expressionist, Red, Blue, White, Oil Painting
By Katherine Borkowski-Byrne
Located in Franklin, MA
Katherine Borkowski-Byrne’s “Out to Sea” is a colorful abstract oil painting, 36 x 60 x 1.5 inch, on canvas with very thick texture and spontaneous brushwork in saturated reds and bl...
Canvas, Oil
"Nowhere", Abstract, Red, Turquoise Blue, Purple, White, Oil Painting
By Katherine Borkowski-Byrne
Located in Franklin, MA
Katherine Borkowski-Byrne’s “Nowhere” is a colorful abstract oil painting, 20.5 x 16 inches, on paper with very thick texture and spontaneous brushwork in saturated reds, turquoises,...
Paper, Oil
"Coming Home", Abstract, Red, Blue, Green, White, Oil Painting
By Katherine Borkowski-Byrne
Located in Franklin, MA
Katherine Borkowski-Byrne’s “Coming Home” is a colorful abstract oil painting on canvas 36 x 24 x 1 inches with thick spontaneous brushwork in saturated reds, blues and greens on a w...
Canvas, Oil
"On the Cusp", Abstract, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, White, Oil Painting
By Katherine Borkowski-Byrne
Located in Franklin, MA
Katherine Borkowski-Byrne’s “On the Cusp” is a colorful and painterly oil on canvas measuring 36 x 32 x 1.5 inches with thick and thin spontaneous brushwork in saturated red, blue, g...
Canvas, Oil
"Picture Show", Abstract, Expressionist, Red, Blue, Yellow, Oil Painting
By Katherine Borkowski-Byrne
Located in Franklin, MA
Katherine Borkowski-Byrne’s “Picture Show” is a colorful abstract expressionist oil painting 60 x 36 x 1.5 inches on canvas with thick and thin sponta...
Canvas, Oil
"Spring Cleaning", Abstract, Expressionist, Red, Blue, Gold, White, Oil Painting
By Katherine Borkowski-Byrne
Located in Franklin, MA
Katherine Borkowski-Byrne’s “Spring Cleaning” is a colorful abstract oil painting on canvas 36 x 46 x 1.5 inch oil painting on canvas with very thick spontaneous brushwork in saturat...
Canvas, Oil
'Blue' by Gail Lehman - Blue, Red, and White Contemporary Abstract Painting
By Gail Lehman
Located in Carmel, CA
Gail Lehman (American, born 1950) "Blue" 2022 Acrylic painting, Gesso, Canvas, Stretcher Bars The artist signed the bottom right of the painting. Within the heart of this artwork li...
Canvas, Acrylic, Gesso, Stretcher Bars
"Red River"
By Cathy Bennigson
Located in Wellesley, MA
Elegant Abstract Expressionist painting with soft geometric elements in black, white, blue, and red: Cathy Bennigson "Red River" 2025 Oil on Canvas 36 x 36 Inches This painting i...
Canvas, Oil
"Dreaming of Spring" - Bright Red, Blue, and Orange Abstract Acrylic Painting
By Gail Lehman
Located in Carmel, CA
Gail Lehman (American, born 1950) "Dreaming of Spring" 2023 Acrylic paint, Gesso, Canvas, Stretcher Bars The artist signed the bottom right of the painting. Gail Lehman's "Dreaming ...
Gesso, Canvas, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
Saudade No 21 - bold, expressive, red, white, blue, abstract acrylic on canvas
By Shireen Kamran
Located in Bloomfield, ON
In Portuguese, the word ‘Saudade’ means ‘missing’ and conveys a nostalgic longing for an absent place or person. The emotion in this abstract painting by Montreal-based artist Shiree...
Canvas, Acrylic
287 Tyrrhenian Vista, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By Anne B Schwartz
Located in Yardley, PA
This powerful painting is what I saw from a vista overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is full of thick oil paint in blues, greens and yellows with lots of texture and bold brush strok...
Oil
"Untitled No. 29" by Kristy Chettle - White, Blue, & Red Abstract Expressionist
By Kristy Chettle
Located in Carmel, CA
Kristy Chettle (American, born 1968) "Untitled No. 29" 2024 Oil Paint, Canvas, Stretcher Bars The artist signed the back of the painting. A captivating exploration of color, texture, and movement, "Untitled No. 29" is a 48" x 48" oil on canvas by contemporary artist Kristy Chettle. This striking abstract work features a harmonious blend of soft blues, whites, and grays, energized by dynamic bursts of yellow, orange, and red. Chettle’s expressive brushwork and layering techniques create an ethereal sense of depth, drawing the viewer into its vibrant and emotive surface. The painting’s gestural marks and textured passages evoke a balance between spontaneity and intentionality, inviting introspection and interpretation. Perfect for modern interiors, "Untitled No. 29" is a bold yet tranquil statement piece, ideal for collectors who appreciate contemporary abstraction and the legacy of Abstract Expressionism. Chettle’s masterful use of oil paint offers both visual energy and a calming atmosphere, making this work a versatile addition to any collection. About the Artist: As a California native (b. 1968, Los Angeles, CA), Kristy Chettle’s paintings explore reflective and thought-provoking themes of nature, transformation, and self-empowerment. Using only her hands and an occasional pallet knife, she paints in multiple layers, sometimes scraping off the paint with her fingers only to reapply a new color later, resulting in a deep texture and raw motion. Occasionally she scrawls her thoughts and emotions into the canvas or uses recycled paper or old screens...
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
