About Our Grant Programs

Adolph Gottlieb began his career as an artist in New York in the 1920s, with no expectation of financial reward. He became one of the small group of artists who initiated the movement known as Abstract Expressionism, and achieved artistic and financial success far beyond his early expectations.

Over the course of his life Gottlieb had several friends and colleagues who, despite their artistic achievements, were not able to support themselves either through the sale of their art or through teaching or related work. Adolph and his wife Esther were known among their friends as people who would help out when times were hard or when someone was in serious need.

In that spirit, Adolph left instructions in his will that a foundation be created to benefit “mature, creative painters and sculptors.” When Adolph died in 1974, this paragraph became a mandate for an artists’ estate to develop a program that would provide direct financial assistance to individual artists.

Esther Gottlieb, having helped to conceive this idea, saw to it that his wishes were carried out and pursued the structural development and organization of the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation.

These grant programs exist as part of the continuing legacy of Adolph and Esther Gottlieb and reflect their dedication to assisting individual artists.