Down town Manhattan in the 1950’s was the backdrop for what would become one of the most intriguing movements in poetic history. Despite the movement becoming known as the New York School; it was not a formal institution but rather a group of artists and poets similar in both style and outlook. The name was attributed to the group due to the painter Robert Motherwell drawing Inspiration from École de Paris.
The poetry of the New York School is charicterised by its witty and often humorous conversational style. Dealing with the urban realities of daily life in 1950’s America while maintaining a light narrative. Often pursuing surrealist ideas, the influence of abstract impressionism is easily recognisable within the work.
There is a lot of debate around who exactly constitutes the New York School. As stated previously it was not a formal institution but existed as a network of relationships and influences which together produced a recognisable movement for those looking in.
Poets of the New York School.
John Ashbery : Born 28th July 1927 Rochester New York. John Ashbery is considered to be one of the first generation New York School poets. John published over 20 volumes of poetry in his life time, and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1976 for his work – Self portrait in a convex mirror where Ashbery sought to examine his own creative processes.
Ashbery graduated from Harvard in 1949 and went on to receive a MA from Colombia university in 1951. Throughout his life he worked as an editor and art critic for many publications leading him to live in Paris. Returning to America in the 1970’s, he taught at Brooklyn and Bard Colleges. Ashbery served as the Poet laureate of New York in 2001 – 2003 . Ashbery continued to live in New York City until his death on 3rd September 2017 age 90.
Barbara Guest: Barbara Guest (1920–2006) was a prominent American poet and a central figure in the first generation of the New York School of poets, alongside John Ashbery, Frank O’Hara, and Kenneth Koch. Known for her experimental and innovative style, Guest’s poetry is characterized by its abstract lyricism, complex imagery, and a focus on the visual arts, influenced by her close association with painters of the New York art scene.
Born in Wilmington, North Carolina, and raised in California, Guest attended UCLA and later Columbia University. In the 1950s and 1960s, she became involved with the New York School, a movement that blended literary experimentation with avant-garde art. Her poetry reflected the ethos of the movement, often incorporating elements of collage and painterly abstraction.
Her first collection, The Location of Things (1960), set the tone for her later works, which are noted for their intellectual depth and aesthetic beauty. Guest was less autobiographical than many of her peers, favoring language that transcended personal narrative in favor of sensory experience and the exploration of consciousness.
Over her long career, Guest published more than 20 books of poetry, essays, and plays. Some of her notable works include Fair Realism (1989) and The Blue Stairs (1968). Her contributions to the world of poetry earned her several prestigious awards, including the Robert Frost Medal for Lifetime Achievement.
In addition to her literary output, Barbara Guest wrote art criticism and collaborated with artists, integrating her poetic and artistic sensibilities. She continued to publish and influence new generations of poets until her death in 2006. Today, she is remembered as a pioneering voice in 20th-century American poetry, especially for her dedication to language’s potential for beauty and abstraction.
Frank O’Hara:(1926–1966) was an American poet and a central figure of the New York School, a group of poets and artists who blended avant-garde art and literature in the 1950s and 1960s. Born in Baltimore and raised in Massachusetts, O’Hara studied at Harvard University, where he developed his interest in music, painting, and writing. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he moved to New York City to attend graduate school at Columbia University.
In New York, O’Hara became deeply involved with the city’s vibrant art scene, forging close relationships with prominent painters such as Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, and Larry Rivers. He worked as a curator at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), balancing his professional life with a prolific output of poetry that captured the immediacy and vitality of urban life.
O’Hara’s poetry is known for its spontaneity, humor, and conversational tone, often drawing on personal experiences, pop culture, and art. His most famous collections include Lunch Poems (1964) and Meditations in an Emergency (1957), which reflect his distinctive style of capturing the energy of city life and personal moments with wit and intimacy.
Despite his untimely death at the age of 40 in a beach accident, O’Hara’s influence has endured. He is celebrated for his ability to merge the everyday with the profound, and his work remains a touchstone for contemporary poets exploring the intersections of art, culture, and personal expression.
Kenneth Koch (1925-2002): was an American poet, playwright, and key member of the New York School, known for his wit, humor, and playful approach to poetry. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, he studied at Harvard University, where he met fellow poets Frank O’Hara and John Ashbery. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Koch moved to New York City and became immersed in the vibrant literary and art scene of the 1950s.
Koch’s poetry is distinguished by its surreal, energetic, and comic elements, often challenging the seriousness of traditional poetry. He drew inspiration from a wide range of influences, including classical literature, modern art, and everyday experiences, mixing high and low cultural references with a sense of exuberance. His major works include Thank You and Other Poems (1962), The Art of Love (1975), and One Train (1994).
In addition to his poetry, Koch was an influential teacher, particularly known for his work with children and older adults, promoting creative writing in non-traditional settings. He authored several books on teaching poetry, including Wishes, Lies, and Dreams (1970), which popularized innovative ways of introducing poetry to young students.
Koch continued to write, teach, and lecture throughout his life, maintaining his playful yet thoughtful approach to language until his death in 2002. His work, with its bold imagination and disregard for convention, remains a cornerstone of the New York School and an important influence on later poets.
James Schuyler(1923-1991): was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet and key figure of the New York School, noted for his quiet, intimate, and deeply observational style. Born in Chicago, Schuyler moved frequently during his youth, eventually settling in New York City. There, he became involved with the New York School of poets, forming close friendships with John Ashbery, Frank O’Hara, and Kenneth Koch.
Schuyler’s poetry is known for its attention to the minutiae of everyday life, capturing small moments and turning them into meditations on nature, art, and personal experience. Unlike the more flamboyant or surreal works of his peers, Schuyler’s poems often embrace a conversational tone, reflecting a deep sensitivity to the world around him. His major works include Freely Espousing (1969), The Morning of the Poem (1980), which won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, and A Few Days (1985).
In addition to poetry, Schuyler worked as a critic and wrote art reviews, which furthered his connection to the visual arts scene. He was also a frequent collaborator with artists such as Fairfield Porter and Donald Evans, incorporating his love for painting and nature into his work.
Despite battling mental illness throughout his life, Schuyler’s poetry radiates a sense of quiet beauty and careful attention to detail, offering readers an introspective look at the world. His work continues to be appreciated for its subtlety, emotional depth, and focus on the textures of everyday existence. He passed away in 1991, leaving behind a significant body of work.
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