During the early 20th century, the enigmatic and charismatic John Graham (1886–1961) and his circle of New York artists, which included Stuart Davis, Arshile Gorky, and Willem de Kooning, forged their identities and dramatically transformed conceptions of what a painting or sculpture could be. Along with others in Graham’s orbit, such as Jackson Pollock and David Smith, they played a critical role in developing and defining American modernism. American Vanguards showcases more than 60 works of art from this vital period that demonstrate the inter-connections, common sources, and shared stimuli among the members of Graham’s circle.