Lee Gatch

Lee Gatch (1902-1968) was an American abstract expressionist painter and mosaic artist. He is known for his heavily textured, richly colored canvases and mosaic panels that often incorporate natural materials such as stones, pebbles, and wood fragments.

Gatch was born in a small town near Baltimore, Maryland. He studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art and later in Paris, where he was influenced by modern European art movements, including Cubism and Fauvism. He returned to the United States and settled in Lambertville, New Jersey, where he lived and worked for the remainder of his career.

His painting style is characterized by the application of thick layers of paint, often mixed with sand or other textural elements, to create surfaces that are both visually and tactilely engaging. His palette ranged from earthy tones to vibrant hues, and his compositions frequently featured geometric shapes and abstract forms. While his work is abstract, some viewers perceive allusions to landscapes or organic forms.

In addition to painting, Gatch also created mosaic panels, which he often incorporated into architectural settings. These panels were similarly textured and richly colored, utilizing a variety of materials to create complex and evocative surfaces.

Gatch's work is included in the collections of numerous museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the National Gallery of Art. He is considered an important figure in the development of American abstract expressionism and is recognized for his unique approach to texture and materials.