Famous Precisionism Artists

The Precisionism Movement was also referred to as the "Cubist-Realist" Movement. It came about in the early 20th century in the US. The movement focused on capturing urbanization and industrialization in precise detail. It reached its peak in the 1920s and 1930s.

Precisionist artists represented their industrial American landscapes with modern dynamism. They created by usuing strong contrasts in color to highlight volumes and planes. This gave them the opportunity to present a confident and optimistic view of the dawning of this new era in American art and society. Subjects were chosen for the clean geometry and line of their formal qualities.

Charles Sheeler

American artist Charles Sheeler was a prominent artist during Precisionism and was known for his architectural and industrial paintins. He was greatly inspired by the geometric forms of Cubism. The artist created artwork in great derail and with precise composition.

Among his most famous artworks is The Artist Looks at Nature which exemplifies his great mastery of Precisionism using clean lines, sharp edges, and simplified forms.

Georgia O'Keefe

American artist Georgia O'Keefe was known for her iconic painting of flowers and New Mexico landscapes. She created some Precisionism paintings in the 1920s.

Among her best known Precisionism paintings are:

City Night 1926

East River from the Shelton Hotel 1928

Both paintings highlight her creativity to capture the essence of urban life with striking simplicity and geometric precision.

Ralston Crawford

American artist, photographer, and lithographer Ralston Crawford played an instrumental role in the development of Precisionism. He is known for creating industrial landscapes and maritime scenes.

Among his best-known artworks is Steeples II in which the artist features bold shapes, strong diagonals, and sharp angles.

Also Steel Coil in which the artist captures the essence of American industry.

Edward Hopper

American artist Edward Hopper was more associated with American Realism but his early artworks depicted elements of Precisionism.

Early Sunday Morning created in 1930 represents a fusion of Precisionist and Realist styles. It highlights clean lines and sharp edges associated with Precisionism but also captures the ordinary moments if urban life.

Morton Shamberg

American artist Morton Shamberg was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was one of the pionees of Precisionism. The Spanish flu pandemic cut his life short but he left significant contributions to the movement.

The Red Mill created in 1915 shows his precisionist approach with the use of geometric shapes and bold color palette.

Louis Lozowick

American artist Louis Lozowick was one of the most influencial Precisionism artist. He created amazing lithographs and paintings celebrating America's urban landscape and bustling cityscapes.

Among his best-known artworks are:

New York 1925

Spiral 1926

These artworks offered a unique perspective on the modern world. They captured the energy and dynamism of city life with meticulous detail and precise geometric forms.

Charles Demuth

American artist Charles Demuth created Precisionist painting that often showcased a unique combination of realism and abstraction.

He was known for his American Precisionist flower paintings:

My Egypt 1927

Flowers 1929

He had the creativity to infuse everyday objects with beauty and grandeur using precise geometric shapes and vibrant colors.

George Ault

American artist George Ault created precisionist painting depicting isolated landscapes and architectural structures.

His famous painting Moonlight in West Hoboken created in 1922 highlights his meticulous attention to detail, stark industrial ambiance, and the use of precise geometric forms.

Niles Spencer

American artist Niles Spencer was known for his distinctive landscapes and citycapes. He used a precisionist approach to captured the evolving American landscape during the early 20th century.

The Construction Job 1939

Building Up 1938

These paintings highlight his ability to merge the Precisionist syle with human touch to depicts urbanization with precision and artistic sentiment.