To coincide with the major exhibition at the Royal Academy in 2016, this lecture gave an historical overview of one of the most important and influential artistic movements of the 20th century.

Beginning with a discussion of the origins and development of Abstract Expressionism it then looks more closely at the two main strands of the movement: Action painting and Colour Field painting. The lecture concludes with a consideration of the continuing influence and popularity of Abstract Expressionism and why it resonates so strongly even today.