John von Wicht

Untitled (7)

c. 1950

John von Wicht John von Wicht (German American, 1888–1970) was known for his vibrant, geometric abstractions and later, more expressive compositions. Born in Malente, Germany, von Wicht began his art training at a young age, apprenticing in a painting and decorating shop and later studying lithography, stained glass, and mosaics at the Royal School of Fine and Applied Arts in Berlin. After World War I, he emigrated to the United States in 1923, where he initially worked in stained glass and mosaics. He settled in Brooklyn Heights, and quickly became involved in the American art scene. He exhibited with the American Abstract Artists group and in numerous solo shows in the 1940s, and gained some recognition. His work evolved from structured geometric abstractions to a freer, more emotive style, often inspired by the New York Harbor, where he served as a supply barge captain during World War II.