Wolf Kahn
German/American, 1927-2020
Born in Stuttgart, Germany in 1927, Wolf Kahn was raised in a culturally rich household and immigrated to the United States in 1940 to escape Nazi persecution. After graduating from the High School of Music & Art in New York, he studied under Hans Hofmann, serving as his studio assistant, before earning a B.A. from the University of Chicago. Kahn's early training in abstraction and lifelong engagement with the natural world laid the foundation for a singular career that bridged color-field painting and landscape traditions.
Kahn became widely known for his luminous compositions that merged expressive color with representational form. His paintings often depict barns, trees, and open fields rendered in vibrant, unexpected hues, creating a dreamlike interplay between realism and abstraction. Over more than six decades, he developed a distinct visual language defined by subtle light and the repetition of rural motifs.
A lifelong traveler and dedicated educator, Kahn worked across the U.S. and internationally, but remained deeply connected to the New England landscape, especially Vermont. His work is represented in major public and private collections, and his influence endures among artists and collectors drawn to the emotional resonance and color harmonies that define his legacy.