Collection: Dan Christensen

Dan Christensen (1942–2007) was a pioneering American abstract painter whose work is most closely associated with Lyrical Abstraction, Color Field painting, and Abstract Expressionism. Known for his dynamic use of color, spray techniques, and gestural linework, Christensen continually evolved his style over a four-decade career, resisting the confines of any single movement while helping define postwar American abstraction.

Born in Cozad, Nebraska, Christensen earned his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1964 before relocating to New York City in 1965. There, he became part of a vibrant circle of young artists and immersed himself in the downtown scene centered around Max’s Kansas City. His early work explored Minimalist forms, but by 1966, he had begun developing the “Bar” paintings, followed shortly by his groundbreaking linear spray paintings, which brought him wide recognition.

Christensen exhibited widely throughout the United States and Europe, with over 75 solo shows and participation in hundreds of group exhibitions. His work was included in several Whitney Annuals and the first Whitney Biennial in 1973, and received praise in major publications including Artforum, The New York Times, and Art in America. He was awarded both a Guggenheim Fellowship and a National Endowment for the Arts Grant.

In his later years, Christensen settled in East Hampton, New York, where he continued to experiment with color and form until his passing in 2007. His paintings are held in the collections of institutions including the Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, and Hirshhorn Museum, among many others.