Paul Jenkins (1923–2012) was an American abstract painter associated with Abstract Expressionism and lyrical abstraction. He is best known for his long-running “Phenomena” series, a body of work that reflects his interest in process, color, and movement rather than traditional composition.

Jenkins developed a distinctive technique involving poured and flowing pigment, often manipulating paint with gravity and hand-held tools rather than brushes. His work emphasizes translucency, saturation, and organic form, allowing color to move freely across the surface. While closely aligned with abstraction, Jenkins rejected strict categorization, instead focusing on intuition and the physical behavior of paint.

Watercolor played an important role in Jenkins’ practice, particularly in exploring fluidity and immediacy on paper. Works such as Phenomena Full Sail reflect his ongoing investigation into motion, light, and atmospheric depth, core elements that define his contribution to postwar American abstraction.