Abstract Art sponsored by CIA

In the 1950s and 1960s, the CIA secretly sponsored American Abstract art touring exhibitions. The artists - among them Jackson Pollock, Robert Motherwell, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko - did not know, and nor did the public. It was part of a cultural cold war, demonstrating that freedom of expression, creativity, and intellectual strength was with the West: straight-jacketed Soviet art could not compete.

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I studied Modern History at Christ Church, Oxford, and worked for Margaret Thatcher in the Conservative Research Department.

My professional career has been as a writer and a broadcasting executive in BBC TV (I was Executive Producer and Writer of the series 'CIA'), Channel 4, TV 2 Denmark, TVI Portugal and TV 2 Norway.

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“Ireland. An illustrated history”, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-00-216294-6
“A short history of Ireland”, Cambridge University Press, 3rd edition, 2013. ISBN 978-1-107-00923-3
“The Agency: the rise and decline of the CIA”, Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-340-41230-5
"Thatcher`s people. An insider`s account of the politics, the power and the personalities", Harper Collins. ISBN 0-00-215410-2
“CIA - A History”, BBC Books. ISBN 978-0563362500
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[maryperrystone]

For those interested in learning more I recommend Frances Stoner Saunders' book, 'Who Paid the Piper?".... One of the CIA sponsored shows was a Museum of Modern Art traveling exhibit which opened in Paris in 1953. The lone social commentary artist in the exhibit, the popular artist, Ben Shahn, was investigated the same year for his political beliefs. I don't believe abstract art was pushed for representing freedom of expression and creativity, as much as those in control wanting art that showed nothing about the human condition. A slap against the humanist artists in America for sure. With the Cold War, and HUAC investigating, abstract art was safe for both artists and buyers. Incidentally, Rockefeller bought 2, 500 abstract paintings for his bank lobbies and had ties with the CIA and of course was connected with the Museum of Modern Art. My mother, Mary Perry Stone a WPA artist felt vindicated when Saunders' book came out as she always suspected the CIA was involved with abstract art being promoted. Saunders is also available speaking on Youtube.

[nancywysemen]

did the artists ever find out- rothko's suicide?

[Thankyouobamabasedgod]

Learned this from the ford foundation! Thanks!

[jesseyules]

Combating the USSR by demonstrating the value of publicly funded art.

[jeansmith]

Hello John - I do remember hearing this at University (of Ottawa, Art History), but have need seen too much since then. The other night I was watching an interview with Ian McEwan where he mentioned this, and it all came back to me. 

Canada has quite a good Abstract movement also. Can you tell me if the CIA was involved in that too, or perhaps the Canadian Government. 

Very interesting . . . but I'd like to know more.

[FodorPupil]

What about music? 12 tone, etc? And Ginsberg type poetry? Did the CIA also fund those?