Burgoyne Diller

Painter and sculptor, born in New York City, New York, USA. He lived in New York, studied with Hans Hofmann, and was influenced by Piet Mondrian. A member of the American Abstract Artists, a group that emphasized nonrepresentational work, he created spare, flat-surfaced work, as in ‘First Theme’ (1933–4). His sculptures are an extension of his painting style.

Many of his best-known works are characterized by orthogonal geometric forms that reflect his strong interest in the De Stijl movement and the work of Piet Mondrian in particular. Overall, his non-objective style also owes much to his study with Hans Hofmann, though Diller also did figurative and representational works early in his career working as a muralist for the New York City Federal Arts Project. His work is in many major museums, including the Whitney Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, as well as the National Gallery and the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, DC.