Mark Rothko (Rothko Mark)

(1903-1970)
This artist's name - Marcus Rothkovich, he was born September 25, 1903 in Dvinsk, Russia (now Daugavpils, Latvia). In 1913 the family emigrated to Portland (pc. Oregon). In 1921, Rothko had received a scholarship at Yale University, but studied there only until 1923, then moved to New York. Attended classes of the League to study art, which took place mainly under the leadership of Max Weber, and in 1929 first exhibited his work. His works of this time are the songs, romantic in spirit and style close to expressionism.
In the 1940's Rothko painting rapidly evolved from a dreamy semi-abstract compositions on themes from Greek tragedies to absolutely pointless forms. By the beginning of 1950, he simplified the structure of his paintings to two, sometimes three zones of bright pure colors.
Since the late 1950's Rothko mainly dealt with the creation of monumental compositions for the decoration of buildings. In 1958 he was commissioned to create a decorative panel for the skyscraper Sigrem Building. However, the artist created compositions have not been installed on their assigned locations. Nine of them were later exhibited in the Tate Gallery in London. In 1961, Rothko had received a similar order for the decoration Holiouk Center, Harvard University. The most significant work Rothko - a cycle of 14 paintings for the chapel of the Ecumenical Church in Houston (pc. Texas).
Rothko died in New York on February 25, 1970.