Elaine de Kooning

1918-1989

Elaine DeKooning was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She began her art training at the Leonardo de Vinci school. Later in life she taught at universities such as Yale and Carnegie Mellon.

She married fellow artist Willem de Kooning in 1943. Elaine and her husband became the leaders of the New York school social set in 1940's, 1950's and the 1960's. In the beginning they were very poor, at times even having to choose between a loaf of bread or a tube of cadmium yellow paint. Most of the time, they would choose the paint. In the latter part of their lives together they had earned millions through art. Together and apart they worked relentlessly on their paintings and she on the promotion of her husband's talents. Elaine is credited for making Willem de Kooning the leading name in New York art circles.