Minimalism
Minimalism is a style that reduces art to its most essential forms, often using geometric shapes and industrial materials.
Minimalism emerged in the 1960s as a reaction against the emotionalism of Abstract Expressionism. It emphasized simplicity, objectivity, and the viewer’s experience of the artwork in space. Minimalist works often consist of simple geometric forms, repeated units, and industrially produced materials like steel, concrete, and fluorescent lights. Key figures include Donald Judd, Sol LeWitt, and Dan Flavin. The focus is on the physical presence of the object and its relationship to the surrounding environment, rather than any symbolic or emotional meaning.
Key Artists
- Donald Judd - Untitled (Stack) (1967)
- Sol LeWitt - Wall Drawing #118 (1971) (and his Wall Drawings generally, as well as his modular structures)
- Agnes Martin - The Islands (1961)
- Dan Flavin - the nominal three (to William of Ockham) (1963)
- Carl Andre - 144 Magnesium Square (1969)
