Posts by Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou was a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
Modern Art
February 18, 2021

Augusta Savage: How a Black Art Teacher and Sculptor Helped Shape the Harlem Renaissance

In the early 20th century, a remarkable renaissance emerged in Harlem. On the historic heels of the Great Migration, a mass exodus of over six million African Americans fleeing the segregated South, the New York City neighborhood became a cultural hub for Black creatives. While a wealth of figures formed this “golden age” of art, music, and literature, the contributions of sculptor Augusta Savage can be found at its core.

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Photography
July 21, 2020

Jacob Riis: The Photographer Who Showed “How the Other Half Lives” in 1890s NYC

In 1870, 21-year-old Jacob Riis immigrated from his home in Denmark to bustling New York City. With only $40, a gold locket housing the hair of the girl he had left behind, and dreams of working as a carpenter, he sought a better life in the United States of America. Unfortunately, when he arrived in the city, he immediately faced a myriad of obstacles.

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Art History
July 12, 2020

Discover the Eclectic Influences That Shaped Ellsworth Kelly’s Avant-Garde Art

Abstract artist Ellsworth Kelly is known for pushing the envelope with his avant-garde paintings, prints, and sculptures. Over the course of his stunning 70-year career, Kelly developed a distinctive approach to his practice, characterized by a preference for minimalism, a penchant for bold colors, and the “new freedom” of finding inspiration in the unexpected.

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Art History
July 5, 2020

Explore How Neo-Expressionism Revolutionized Contemporary Figurative Painting

At the start of the 20th century, Expressionism turned the art world on its head. Spearheaded by German artists aiming to distort reality and “express” emotion, this modernist movement called for bright colors, bold brushstrokes, and energetic compositions. While Expressionism's popularity waned by 1920, it has since sparked several styles and genres, with the Neo-Expressionists—a pack of daring artists—leading the charge.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.