alternatehistory.com

The Abstract Expressionist wave the formed in New York after WWII is widely(if inaccurately) seen as the central event of postwar American art if not Western art in general. But what if it doesn't happen, either because the surrealists who lived in New York don't go there during WW2(or for a more limited PoD, Arshile Gorky and Matta don't move to the United States). What does this do? How does american painting develop? Do we we see continuations of the prewar modernist tendencies, possibly to a greater degree since it's less New York-Centric? does California and the Los Angeles area especially emerge as a major artistic center somewhat earlier?
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