Nighttime, Enigma and Nostalgia

1920s

From Impressionism to Post-Impressionism

In the early 1920s Gorky was influenced by Impressionism, and later in the decade his work moved closer to Post-Impressionism.

1925–1931

Teaches at the Grand Central School of Art

Edmund Greacen of the Grand Central Art Galleries asked Gorky to teach at the Grand Central School of Art in New York, and he stayed there until 1931; his notable students included Revington Arthur. Other accounts say he taught there from 1926.

1930

Group exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art

Works by the members of the group to which Gorky belonged were shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

1930s

Collaboration with Davis, de Kooning and Graham

In the 1930s Gorky worked closely with Stuart Davis, Willem de Kooning and John Graham.

1931

First solo exhibition in Philadelphia

Gorky’s first solo exhibition took place at the Mellon Galleries in Philadelphia.

1931

Works sent to the Downtown Gallery

Gorky sent a group of works priced from $100 to $450 to the Downtown Gallery in New York. Abby Aldrich Rockefeller bought his Cézannesque still life “Fruit” from the gallery; Gorky may have been introduced to its owner by Stuart Davis, who exhibited there regularly.