In the middle half of the 20th century, Mark Rothko used colour to express emotions in their purest sense, pioneering a new direction in abstract art. Rothko's colour fields refused to adhere to any particular art movement, with the man himself stating, "I'm interested only in expressing basic human emotions: tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on.” . Today, many contemporary artists find inspiration in his large scale blocks of colour. Sydney-based Artem Bryl sticks close to Rothko's original vision, while emerging star Caitlin Berzins interprets seaside horizons in the spirit of the famous artist. Enjoy a selection of artworks from all over Australia exploring the abstract expressionist's influence.

Curated by Megan George