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Alice Baber (1928 - 1982) Blip Artist

As we unpack the art history books, Alice Baber is frequently described as an abstract artist, her New York Times' obituary described her work as lyrically abstract.  Yes, she is an abstract artist, however instead, she should be noted as an abstract artist that invented blip art, where she worked with multiple ovoid shapes.  

 Her work is like looking through a kaleidoscope where the angled mirrored walls reflect the colored glass elements into patterns of light and color.  As in the example below, she deploys blips of colors on the canvas; lemon yellow, cherry red, Tiffany aqua and spots of taupe, all laying on a bed of white.  Some of the overlapping colors built up into intense hues.  The sizes of the blips vary and the transparency of the colors builds into swirls around empty areas.      

"Steps to the Fountain in the Secret Garden"

Acrylic on Canvas

Approximate Size:  18" X 42"



Who's Who in American Art, states that Baber was born in Charleston, Ill., studied art at Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Mo., and Indiana University in Bloomington. She went to New York in 1951 and lived in both New York and Paris from 1959 to 1968. Her marriage to the famed painter Paul Jenkins ended in divorce.  She was represent by the noted A.M. Sachs Gallery in New York City for many years.  

Her work is in numerous permanent collections, including;  the Guggenheim, Whitney, Metropolitan, and the Museum of Modern Art.  Additionally, East Hampton, NY is home to the Alice Baber Memorial Art Library.     



Painting Signature with Copyright
Baber 79


Reverse of the Painting
Signature and Title, with Label








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