McCormick Gallery is presenting an exhibition dedicated to Mary Abbott (1921-2019), an Abstract Expressionist painter from New York. The show runs from June 4 to July 17, 2026, highlighting Abbott's connection to the sea, inherited from her father, a decorated submarine commander and Naval advisor to FDR. Abbott came of age as an artist in the late 1940s, aligning with figures such as David Hare, Barnett Newman, and Willem de Kooning within the Abstract Expressionist movement.
This exhibition matters because it brings renewed attention to Mary Abbott, a female artist who was part of the predominantly male Abstract Expressionist circle, helping to correct historical imbalances in art-world recognition. By showcasing her work, McCormick Gallery contributes to the ongoing reevaluation of women artists from that era, offering audiences a chance to engage with a lesser-known but significant contributor to mid-20th-century American art.