Ernest Briggs (Born 1923) was a serious Abstract Expressionist and a participant in the in many art fares. The revolution in abstract painting which secured the position of New York City as the world’s art capital of in the post-Second World War period. He was born in San Diego, CA, and went on to serve in the United States Navy during the Second World War He studied painting in San Francisco, CA at the Schaeffer School of Design, and he later studied at The California School of Fine Arts, where he blossomed under the guidance of such greats as Ad Reinhardt, Clyfford Still, Mark Rothko and David Park. Briggs was largely influenced by the "painterly rhetoric" of Still Clyfford, his teacher, during and after his time at CSFA. Briggs produced thousands of high quality pieces of art and he managed to attract clients from all over the world.
His art is still very popular and they are found in many galleries and museums around the world. His emphasis was on thick brush strokes and lyrical, strong color that called attention to the act of painting. His work was more geometric and linear, and relied upon an almost translucent, strong light within blues and grays. He’s considered as a member of the 2nd generation of Abstract Expressionists, together with Cavallon Giorgio, he left California in 1953 for New York where he started exhibiting at the Stable Gallery. Around the 1950s, Briggs was able to make a name for himself by way of his dynamic and explosive style as part of the NYC avant-garde.
