Grace Hartigan

Mitchell, Frankenthaler and Leslie were very close, as was O’Hara (she described the emotional intimacy with him as greater than any she had with a heterosexual). Pollock was a powerful early influence, and sent her on to de Kooning when she asked who else was making important work. Avery was the first significant artist she met, and through him her close friends Rothko and Gottlieb. She met Hofmann modelling for him, cashed in soda bottles so Kline could afford a subway fare, and drunk bourbon in Rothko’s studio as he confessed that he couldn’t let his ‘Four Seasons’ paintings go to a restaurant.