Guerrero, Jose (1914-1991), Spanish painter, whose abstract paintings are characterized by bold, expressive strokes of color. Color is the most important element in Guerrero’s paintings, defining the space and structure of the compositions. His choice of colors—especially blue, red, yellow, and black—evokes his Spanish homeland.

His fluid and spontaneous use of paint recalls the work of Robert Motherwell and Franz Kline, American painters of the abstract expressionism movement. In contrast to the thickly encrusted surfaces of paintings by many of the abstract expressionists, Guerrero allowed the canvas to show through in parts of his paintings.

Guerrero was born and grew up in Granada, Spain. He studied in Madrid, Spain’s capital, and in Paris, France, before arriving in New York City in 1949. There he became friends with American abstract painters Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and Mark Rothko. Guerrero became a citizen of the United States in 1952 and divided his time between New York City and Madrid.