John Graham

Born Ivan Dombrowsky in Kiev, Ukraine, Graham immigrated to the United States in 1920. The artist brought his knowledge of modern European art to New York, where he studied at the Art Students League with John Sloan. In 1925, he moved to Baltimore where he continued to paint, exhibit, and promote modern art. He eventually became an important mentor to artists and gallerists associated with the New York School, including painters Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning and dealers Leo Castelli and Ileana Sonnabend.