NEW YORK, NY.- Anita Shapolsky announced the death of Amaranth Roslyn Ehrenhalt, vibrant multimedia artist and painter belonging to the second generation of the New York Abstract School that burst to prominence in the 1950’s. Although she spent most of her artist life in Paris, the color and energy of her work makes her an inseparable part of the New York School of abstraction. Ms. Ehrenhalt passed on March 16th, 2021 at the age of 93 in New York City due to complications from Covid-19. She is survived by her son Caradoc and daughter, Sonce.

Amaranth Roslyn Ehrenhalt was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1928 and grew up in Philadelphia, PA. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts on scholarship and studied also at the Barnes Foundation. In the early 1950’s she moved to New York City where she became friends with many important artists of her generation, such as Al Held, Ronald Bladen and Willem de Kooning, among others. Before moving to Paris, she had a drink with de Kooning at the legendary Cedar Tavern. He asked her to have dinner with him after her return to New York City, but it never happened. She remained in Paris for almost 40 years, where she met, socialized and exhibited with artists such as Seymour Boardman, Sam Francis, Shirley Jaffe, and Joan Mitchell, many of whom later belonged to a momentous Martha Jackson Gallery. She also personally knew many recognized European artists such as Alberto Giacometti, Yves Klein, and Sonia Delaunay. Delaunay, who believed in Amaranth’s talent, supported her during her early years in Paris by allowing Amaranth to purchase art supplies on Delaunay’s account.

Anita Shapolsky, who established the Anita Shapolsky Gallery in 1982 with focus on New York School of abstraction, met Amaranth Ehrenhalt in 1989. Amaranth, who was very tall and could not be missed, walked to the gallery exclaiming “I know these artists!” At the same year Anita Shapolsky put her into a group show. That was the beginning of years of professional collaboration and personal friendship, which only deepened since 2008, when Amaranth permanently relocated to New York City.

Amaranth Ehrenhalt, a true multimedia artist, worked and created to her final days. She perfectly mastered many mediums, creating paintings, drawings, watercolors, sculptures, mosaics, prints, tapestries, scarves, poetry and writing. She used bold, dynamic brush strokes and strong, vibrant colors. She named her works by unique, unusual titles, often referring to specific memories, and reflecting the rich, emotionally loaded, dynamic nature of her work. She was breathing and living for art and worked tirelessly, which was obvious to everyone who visited her in her Harlem apartment and studio.

Amaranth’s work has been exhibited in many group and solo shows around the world and became part of various art collections. As a woman artist belonging to an important school of abstraction, her work is an inseparable part of visual art of the twentieth century. She will be missed by the Ehrenhalt family and her many friends.