A self-taught painter and theorist, Georges Mathieu is recognized as the founder of Lyrical Abstraction and best known for his largescale paintings with curving calligraphic lines and rhythmic quality. In his published manifestos, Mathieu outlines the philosophy of Lyrical Abstraction, highlighting the dominance of speed, intuitive expression and a euphoric state of mind, which is central to the creation of his art. Squeezing the paint directly from the tube onto the canvas, he emphasized the necessity of rapid execution and often displayed his expression in public performances by speedily creating paintings before live audiences, while dressed in costume. These performative acts, which he merged with his paintings, anticipated the oeuvres of many other artists of the 1950s and 60s. Mathieu also experimented with different mediums, making his first prodigious sculptures in 1962. A colourful character and renowned artist, Mathieu exhibited in Paris and internationally, notably in a solo exhibition at Galerie Drouin, Paris, and at the Stable Gallery and Kootz Gallery in New York. His work is held in prominent private and public collections, including the Guggenheim in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago, among others.