the collector's folio

James Brooks Most Popular Paintings

The 12 artworks by James Brooks our visitors look at most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one.

Edition 2026 · 12 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide James Brooks · 1906 – 1992

Number 13 (1965)

1965 · Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas · original 58 x 73 cm

Explore James Brooks's iconic 'Number 13,' a monumental Abstract Expressionist painting featuring bold black and white contrasts, gestural brushstrokes, and evocative symbolism reflecting the artist’s journey through WPA murals and wartime service.

View the most popular artwork of James Brooks ranked #1: Number 13

Art Movement: Abstract Expressionism
Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 12 artworks by James Brooks
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$27373 × 58 cm Commission at original size

Untitled by James Brooks, 1952

1952 · Parrish Art Museum, Water Mill

Dynamic blue splashes of yellow and orange define this 1952 abstract expressionist masterpiece by James Brooks, offering a captivating burst of color for your collection.

View the most popular artwork of James Brooks ranked #2: Untitled

Art Movement: Abstract Expressionism
Color Palette: Dark

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 12 artworks by James Brooks
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17736 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Black and White, James Brooks

1965 · original 25 x 36 cm

View the most popular artwork of James Brooks ranked #3: Black and White

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 12 artworks by James Brooks
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17738 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Mohan – James Brooks

1960 · Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia

View the most popular artwork of James Brooks ranked #4: Mohan

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 12 artworks by James Brooks
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Nado – James Brooks

1962 · Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit

View the most popular artwork of James Brooks ranked #5: Nado

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 12 artworks by James Brooks
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Ipswich, James Brooks

1967 · Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas

View the most popular artwork of James Brooks ranked #6: Ipswich

Color Palette: Monochrome

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 12 artworks by James Brooks
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17736 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

James Brooks, Quand (1969)

1969 · Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas

View the most popular artwork of James Brooks ranked #7: Quand

Color Palette: Monochrome

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 12 artworks by James Brooks
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17736 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Harmagh by James Brooks, 1967

1967 · original 121 x 153 cm

View the most popular artwork of James Brooks ranked #8: Harmagh

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 12 artworks by James Brooks
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$688153 × 121 cm Commission at original size

Oran (1969)

1969 · original 270 x 233 cm

Explore James Brooks’ ‘Oran’ (1969), a dynamic Abstract Expressionist painting featuring vibrant red & blue hues, textured surfaces, and rhythmic composition. Discover this iconic work at the Smithsonian!

View the most popular artwork of James Brooks ranked #9: Oran

Art Movement: Abstract Expressionism
Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 12 artworks by James Brooks
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17734 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Ipswich

original 152 x 91 cm

Color Palette: Nature

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 12 artworks by James Brooks
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17724 × 41 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$55391 × 152 cm Commission at original size

B 1955

original 74 x 88 cm

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 12 artworks by James Brooks
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$33988 × 74 cm Commission at original size

Untitled (1953) by James Brooks

1953 · Parrish Art Museum, Water Mill

View the most popular artwork of James Brooks ranked #12: Untitled

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 12 artworks by James Brooks
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

James Brooks

1906 – 1992

Quick facts

Died1992
Also known asJames ii Brooks, James D. Brooks, James David Brooks, جيمس بروكس, ジェームズ・ブルックス
Art periodModern
Museums on APSDetroit Institute of Arts, Dallas Museum of Art, Parrish Art Museum, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
Top 3 worksNumber 13, Untitled, Black and White
Top-ranked workNumber 13
Color intensitymonochromatic

Biography

Early Life and Education

Born: October 18, 1906, St. Louis, Missouri
Family moved to Dallas, Texas in 1916
Studied art at Southern Methodist University (1922-1924)
Private lessons with James A. Waddell and Martha Simkins in Dallas
Moved to New York City in 1926
Studied at the Art Students League under Boardman Robinson and Kimon Nicolaides
Worked as a commercial artist to support himself

The WPA Years and Early Murals

Active in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Art Project from 1936-1942
Painted three murals for the WPA, demonstrating social realist style.
Flight (1940-1942): A significant mural at La Guardia Airport's Marine Air Terminal, depicting the history of aviation. It was the largest WPA mural and later restored after being painted over.
Friendships with Jackson Pollock and Philip Guston during this period

Abstract Expressionist Period: Style and Development

Served as a combat artist in the U.S. Army (1942-1945)
Returned to New York City in 1946, reconnected with Pollock and Krasner
Shifted towards Abstract Expressionism, influenced by Surrealist principles
Developed a unique staining technique: Experimenting with the bleed of paste through canvas.
Early works showed influences of Synthetic Cubism.
Palette initially featured browns, grays, blacks and vivid colors.
Later work incorporated larger forms, broader strokes, and simpler compositions using acrylics.
Often used numbers and letters to identify paintings, incorporating nonsense syllables as titles (e.g., *Pask*, *Burwak*, *Jondol*).

Major Exhibitions and Recognition

First solo exhibition at the Peridot Gallery in New York City (1949)
Participated in the historic Ninth Street Exhibition (1951) – a key event in Abstract Expressionism.
Featured in exhibitions such as Twelve Americans and New American Painting at the Museum of Modern Art.
Documenta, Kassel, West Germany (1959).
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship (1969)

Legacy and Historical Significance

Considered a first-generation Abstract Expressionist painter.
Known for his innovative staining techniques and lyrical abstraction.
His work is held in prominent collections including the Art Institute of Chicago, The Museum of Modern Art, Tate Gallery, and National Gallery of Art.
Brooks's artistic journey reflects the evolution of Abstract Expressionism and his willingness to experiment with new approaches to painting.
Died on March 9, 1992, in East Hampton, New York.

Questions & Answers

How can I follow James Brooks's work year by year?

A timeline of James Brooks's works exists: the artist's Artwork Timeline page orders the artworks by creation date.

What are the birthplace and birth year of James Brooks?

James Brooks was born in St. Louis in 1906.

Can I browse James Brooks's works by color palette?

James Brooks's works can be browsed by color palette on the artist's By Palettes page.

By the WikiOO.org Editorial Team Updated Sept. 2, 2026

Collector's quiz

Where was James Brooks born?
What significant mural did James Brooks create for LaGuardia Airport?
Which artistic movement is James Brooks most closely associated with?
What unique technique did Brooks develop involving paint and canvas?

one You choose the size

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two We paint and send a preview

A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

three Delivered, certified

Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

Commission your James Brooks

Every artwork by James Brooks in our catalog can be painted to order, in the size that suits the room.

All artworks by James Brooks