Milton AVERY was an American abstract artist who was active in the mid-20th century. He is known for his simplified forms and bold colors. Mark Rothko was a Latvian-American abstract expressionist painter who is best known for his color field paintings. Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian painter and art theorist who is credited with painting the first purely abstract works. Josef Albers was a German-American artist and educator who is best known for his series of paintings Homage to the Square. LEE Krasner was an American abstract expressionist painter and a major figure in the New York School. Paul Klee was a Swiss-German artist who is known for his playful and humorous works.