In the middle half of the 20th century, Mark Rothko used colour to express emotions in their purest sense, pioneering a new direction in abstract art. Rothko's colour fields refused to adhere to any particular art movement, with the man himself stating, "I'm interested only in expressing basic human emotions: tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on.”
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Today, many contemporary artists find inspiration in his large scale blocks of colour. Sydney-based Artem Bryl sticks close to Rothko's original vision, while emerging star Caitlin Berzins interprets seaside horizons in the spirit of the famous artist. Enjoy a selection of artworks from all over Australia exploring the abstract expressionist's influence.

Megan is Bluethumb's resident photographer and videographer, with her own commercial and fine art photographic practice on the side. She studied Photography at RMIT in Melbourne.