With an emphasis on gesture, dripping, and splattering, Vivian Springford’s works of the 1950s bore a clear connection to Abstract Expressionism. The primary influence of her early work came from East Asian arts and letters, particularly Chinese calligraphy, Taoism and Confucianism. She credited the Chinese-American painter Walasse Ting, whom she met in the mid-1950s, with introducing her to Asian culture.

Tom Wesselmann emerged as a pivotal figure in the American Pop Art movement of the 1960s, setting aside Abstract Expressionism to embrace classical representations. His art, particularly in nudes, still lifes, and landscapes, carved out a unique niche with the integration of collage elements and assemblages.