Who were the Pattern and Decoration painters and how did they revive traditional decorative arts?

The Pattern and Decoration (P&D) movement emerged in the United States in the mid-1970s as a reaction against the dominance of Minimalism and Conceptualism in the art world. P&D artists sought to revive traditional decorative arts and incorporate them into contemporary painting practices.

P&D painters drew inspiration from a wide range of decorative traditions, including Islamic and Byzantine designs, Indian miniatures, and American quilts. They used bright colors, intricate patterns, and ornamental motifs to create paintings that rejected the austerity of Minimalism and Conceptualism.

The P&D movement was also notable for its emphasis on the personal and the feminine. Many of the artists associated with the movement were women, and they often incorporated personal elements into their work, such as family photographs or references to domestic life.

Some of the most well-known Pattern and Decoration painters include Joyce Kozloff, Miriam Schapiro, Valerie Jaudon, and Robert Kushner. Their work can be seen as a bridge between the worlds of fine art and craft, and their revival of traditional decorative arts has had a lasting influence on contemporary painting practices.