Not Just A 'Lady Painter'

Celebrating Joan Michell's Centennial

Jul 11, 2025

You had to be tougher as a woman. If you showed any weakness, they’d eat you alive.1

For Divine Feminine Friday we’re taking one more week of respite from Creating in The Shadows for an artist who made it her mission to never let shadows get in her way, a trailblazer who put herself directly in the line of fire during a critical transition in Modern Art.

Joan Mitchell would be 100 years old this year. She was raised to value the arts and culture, and began studying painting by the time she was 11.

A Life Well Lived

Rooted in feminist principles of freedom and self-determination, Joan Mitchell’s legacy has profoundly impacted the art world, enabling new generations of female artists to explore and assert their voices. Mitchell’s life and career exemplify the power of independence and the enduring spirit of creativity. Her journey, marked by resilience, personal and professional challenges and an unyielding commitment to her art, stands as a beacon of inspiration. By bridging the rich traditions of the past with the innovations of modern abstraction, Mitchell not only established herself as a masterful painter but also set the stage for a more inclusive future in fine art.

Defying Gender Norms: Feminism in Action

Mitchell’s career unfolded during a period when women artists were frequently marginalized. In the male-dominated Abstract Expressionist movement of the 1950s, figures like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning overshadowed many talented female contemporaries. It was difficult for women to be recognized or achieve solo shows in major galleries. Yet Mitchell resisted the limitations imposed by gender. She rejected the diminutive label of just a “lady painter,” demanding her work be evaluated on its own terms.

I resent being called a ‘woman painter.’ I’m a painter.2

Her independence extended to her personal life. After her tumultuous marriage to publisher Barney Rosset ended in 1952, Mitchell chose to prioritize her art over societal expectations of domesticity. She never had children, a decision enabling her to devote herself fully to her work. At the same time, she resisted aligning herself with the overt feminist movements of the 1960s. Nonetheless, her actions embodied the feminist ethos of autonomy and self-determination.3

Harkening to the Past: Building upon Artistic Traditions

Mitchell’s formative years in Chicago and her early exposure to European art deeply influenced her artistic vision. During her studies at the Art Institute of Chicago in the 1940s, Mitchell engaged with the works of Impressionist masters such as Claude Monet and Post-Impressionist innovators like Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne. These artists, known for their explorations of light, form, and emotional depth, left a lasting imprint on her. Her first visit to France in 1948 allowed her to experience this artistic heritage firsthand, an encounter destined to resonate throughout her career.4

The Seine flows here just as it did for Monet, but it’s not about copying what he saw. It’s about feeling it—the way the seasons change, the way the colors shift. I paint those feelings, not the scene itself.5

Decades later, when she settled in Vétheuil, near Monet’s former home, the connection became even more pronounced. Works like her La Grande Vallée series (1983-84) echo Monet’s fascination with nature, yet they are imbued with the energy and dynamism unique to Abstract Expressionism.6

I’m very influenced by the light and landscape here. You can’t help but feel Monet’s presence—it’s in the air, in the gardens, in the river. But I’m not imitating; I’m transforming it into my own language.7

Mitchell’s surroundings in France became an integral part of her artistic vocabulary, merging the legacy of Impressionism with her innovative abstract expressionist style. By drawing on the past while forging her own path, she created a bridge between historical traditions and the bold innovations of the 20th century.

In the Studio: A Visual Portrait of Joan at Work

To witness Joan Mitchell in her studio was to see an artist entirely consumed by her craft. She often worked in large, light-filled spaces, her canvases massive, sprawling across the room like landscapes in their own right. The floor would be littered with brushes of varying sizes, paint-streaked rags, and splatters of vibrant color. Mitchell worked with a physicality matching the scale of her canvases, attacking the surface with bold, sweeping strokes, stepping back often to assess, then diving in again with renewed vigor.8

Her process was intuitive yet deliberate. Mitchell drew from the emotional depth of her experiences—personal losses, the changing landscapes of her adopted home in France, and the visceral energy of her surroundings.

I paint from remembered landscapes that I carry with me—and remembered feelings of them, which of course become transformed.9

To center herself and her vision, Mitchell would often retreat into nature. She found solace and inspiration in her gardens in Vétheuil, taking long walks or sitting among the trees, observing the play of light and color. Music also played a vital role in her creative process. Classical pieces by composers like Mozart or Rachmaninoff often filled the studio, providing an emotional backdrop to her work.10

Meticulous about her materials, Mitchell insisted on the highest-quality paints and canvases. This attention to detail reflected her deep respect for the act of painting itself. Even as she painted with fury, her works retained a sense of balance, harmony and movement—a testament to her mastery of her medium.11

Major Artistic Achievements

It wasn’t just about being good. It was about surviving. Women weren’t supposed to make art, let alone make it big.12

Joan Mitchell's career was marked by a series of groundbreaking achievements establishing her as one of the most significant painters of her time. Her contributions to Abstract Expressionism and her ability to channel deep emotional and environmental connections into her work earned her recognition and acclaim.

First Solo Exhibition (1952): Mitchell held her first solo show at the New Gallery in New York City, marking her formal entry into the art world. The exhibition showcased her early experiments in abstraction, which were already pushing the boundaries of the genre.13
Participation in the Ninth Street Show (1951): As one of only a few women invited to participate in this seminal exhibition of Abstract Expressionism, Mitchell’s work stood out for its boldness and lyricism, setting the stage for her enduring influence in the movement.14
Hemlock (1956): This painting is a cornerstone of Mitchell’s early abstract work, showcasing her dynamic brushstrokes and profound emotional depth. Inspired by the 1916 Wallace Stevens poem, Domination of Black, containing multiple references to the evergreen: Out of the window, / I saw how the planets gathered / Like the leaves themselves / Turning in the wind. / I saw how the night came, / Came striding like the color of the / heavy hemlocks. . . It remains one of her most celebrated pieces, currently housed in the Whitney Museum of American Art.15
Move to France (1959): Mitchell’s relocation to France was a turning point in her career. Her studio in Vétheuil, near Claude Monet’s former home, became a sanctuary where she created some of her most iconic works, including her later series evoking the landscapes of the French countryside.16
La Grande Vallée Series (1983-84): Inspired by the memory of a lost friend and the landscapes of Vétheuil, this monumental series exemplifies Mitchell’s mature style. The works are a symphony of color and motion, reflecting her ability to merge personal emotion with universal themes.17
International Recognition: Mitchell’s contributions to art were celebrated worldwide. In 1967, a retrospective at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse solidified her reputation in the United States. Later, in 1989, she became the first woman to receive France’s prestigious Grand Prix National de Peinture, a testament to her impact on the global art scene.18
Legacy through the Joan Mitchell Foundation (Established 1993): In her final years, Mitchell ensured her commitment to supporting emerging artists by establishing the Joan Mitchell Foundation. The organization provides grants, residencies and resources to artists, perpetuating her belief in the power of creative expression.19

Mitchell’s artistic achievements reflect not only her exceptional talent but also her determination to carve a space for herself in a male-dominated field. Her body of work, spanning decades, continues to inspire and influence generations of artists worldwide.

Setting the Stage for Future Artists

Mitchell’s legacy extends far beyond her own work. As a trailblazer in abstract painting, she opened doors for female artists to challenge traditional boundaries and assert their creative voices. Her contemporaries, such as Helen Frankenthaler, Lee Krasner and Elaine de Kooning, similarly pushed against societal norms, collectively paving the way for future generations.

Helen had this incredible openness in her work—there’s a clarity to it that’s like sunlight. I admired her courage to break boundaries in the way she handled paint.20

Lee had to fight for her place in a world that wanted to reduce her to being ‘Pollock’s wife.’ But her work has a strength and rhythm all her own. She was relentless.21

Elaine was sharp, smart, and always moving. She had this energy in her work that reflected who she was—a dynamic, restless spirit.22

Mitchell acknowledged the collective struggle of her peers and the shared determination connecting them as female artists navigating a hostile art world. As a result, today her influence can be seen in the work of contemporary artists who continue to explore abstraction and emotional resonance, including:

Cecily Brown: Known for her sensual, abstracted forms, Brown’s works echo Mitchell’s dynamic use of color and energy.23
Julie Mehretu: Her large-scale abstractions, blending architecture and emotion, share Mitchell’s commitment to the physicality of painting.24
Amy Sillman: With her fluid integration of abstraction and figuration, Sillman’s work carries forward Mitchell’s legacy of bold experimentation.25
Njideka Akunyili Crosby: While her work often incorporates figurative elements, Crosby’s layered compositions and exploration of identity draw on the emotional depth characteristic of Mitchell’s oeuvre.26

A Fully Realized Artist

Joan Mitchell lived her life with an unflinching dedication to her art, creating works of profound emotional and aesthetic power. Her paintings, from Ladybug (1957) to River (1989), stand as testaments to her ability to transform personal experience into universal expression. Her life—one of independence, defiance of conventions and creative authenticity—serves as a model for artists striving to assert their own voices in the face of societal pressures.

We all dealt with the same dismissiveness—being called ‘lady painters’ or not taken seriously. But we weren’t trying to be men. We were just trying to be ourselves, and that was enough.27

By remaining true to herself and her vision, Joan Mitchell embodies the archetype of the divine feminine by not only cementing her place among the great artists of the 20th century but also laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and dynamic art world. She channeled the divine feminine through fierce intuition, emotional truth and an uncompromising receptivity to nature’s rhythms—qualities infusing her canvases with raw power and lyricism. Her influence endures, inspiring countless women to embrace the principles of freedom, independence and bold creativity. Joan Mitchell’s life, truly, was a life well lived.