action painting
noun
: abstract expressionism marked especially by the use of spontaneous techniques (such as dribbling, splattering, or smearing)
action painter
noun
Examples of action painting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The exhibition challenges traditional art historical narratives and showcases how these women embraced action painting, gestural abstraction, and large-scale experimentation to create dynamic, influential works.
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Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Happenings took the painting out of action painting and left only the action.
—Frank Rose, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2023
One escort takes revenge on the boys by leaving a huge mess of excrement all over the toilet, an action painting in brown shown in great detail here for no discernible artistic reason, apart from shock value.
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
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Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Happenings took the painting out of action painting and left only the action.
—Frank Rose, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2023
One escort takes revenge on the boys by leaving a huge mess of excrement all over the toilet, an action painting in brown shown in great detail here for no discernible artistic reason, apart from shock value.
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Action painting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/action%20painting. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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