Artist. Though a significant abstract painter in her own right, she is perhaps better remembered as the lover and muse of several notables of the genre. Raised in northern New Jersey, she was attracted to the art world at age seven by reading a book on Beethoven. In 1956 she began a romance with painter Jackson Pollock, and a few months later was injured in the drunken car wreck that killed Pollock and one of Kligman's friends. She was soon living with William de Kooning (critics charged that de Kooning was still trying to "compete" with Pollock), and was to reside with him in Cuba, Italy, and France. Kligman's serious work began in 1958 through her association with the New Artists League and her study at the New School, and at New York University. Over the years she was to see her work shown in several galleries, her best known painting probably being an expressionist "Joan of Arc", while maintaining personal relationships with a succession of well-known names, including Andy Warhol and Franz Kline (she once even proposed to Jasper Johns). Kligman was married for seven years to Carlos Sansegundo, living in Spain. In 1974 she published "Love Affair: A Memoir of Jackson Pollock". Her last major exhibition, titled "Demons: The Light", was held at The Zone: Chelsea Gallery, New York, in 2005. Her final years were divided between Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Manhattan, where she maintained a home and studio in Kline's old 14th. Street quarters. Kligman was portrayed by Jennifer Connelly in the 2000 film "Pollock".
Artist. Though a significant abstract painter in her own right, she is perhaps better remembered as the lover and muse of several notables of the genre. Raised in northern New Jersey, she was attracted to the art world at age seven by reading a book on Beethoven. In 1956 she began a romance with painter Jackson Pollock, and a few months later was injured in the drunken car wreck that killed Pollock and one of Kligman's friends. She was soon living with William de Kooning (critics charged that de Kooning was still trying to "compete" with Pollock), and was to reside with him in Cuba, Italy, and France. Kligman's serious work began in 1958 through her association with the New Artists League and her study at the New School, and at New York University. Over the years she was to see her work shown in several galleries, her best known painting probably being an expressionist "Joan of Arc", while maintaining personal relationships with a succession of well-known names, including Andy Warhol and Franz Kline (she once even proposed to Jasper Johns). Kligman was married for seven years to Carlos Sansegundo, living in Spain. In 1974 she published "Love Affair: A Memoir of Jackson Pollock". Her last major exhibition, titled "Demons: The Light", was held at The Zone: Chelsea Gallery, New York, in 2005. Her final years were divided between Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Manhattan, where she maintained a home and studio in Kline's old 14th. Street quarters. Kligman was portrayed by Jennifer Connelly in the 2000 film "Pollock".
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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