Book Description

Agnes Martin has spent every morning for the past 40 years working in her New Mexico studio, producing square abstract paintings that consist of graphite horizontal lines across fields of white, gray, or pale colors. Though her work superficially belongs to the history of Minimalism, Martin considers her paintings the abstract expression of positive inner states of existence. Published on the occasion of her 90th birthday, this catalogue presents the iconic serenity and elegant geometry of her canvasses from the past decade, in a format complimentary to Martin's own immutable aesthetic.
Essay by Ned Rifkin.

8.5 x 9 in.
50 color, 10 b/willustrations ... Read more

Book Description

The oldest surviving member of the Abstract Expressionist generation, Agnes Martin long ago succeeded in emptying the canvas of ideas and allowing it to fill with pure emotion. Reproduced alongside texts by the artist, the 15 paintings from 1999 that are reproduced here are the apotheosis of what Martin considers the positive in life.
Introduction by Arne Glimcher.

11.25 x 11.25 in.
14 color illustrations ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Joy in Simplicity
Agnes Martin is one of the world's most respected abstract expressionist painters. Awarded the US National Medal for the Arts and many others, at 88 years young, she continues to paint daily in her Taos, New Mexico studio. This book highlights an extensive collection of her past and present work. The fascination of the work is that she is able to simplify and reduce the visual experience to very faint lines, grids, and bands of muted color on paper and canvas. The images in this book are not concrete, they are not bold, they are contemplative soft feminine brush strokes and fine graphite lines that can, if you allow them, produce a sense of calm, peace and joy. A true experience! If you are unable to go to Taos's Harwood Museum to see seven of her blue and white series all arranged in an octangal room constructed to house them, this book will introduce you to one great painter. Enjoy. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A wonderful voice behind the paintings
How many great painters have been eloquent on their work or methods, or, for that matter, on art or culture in general? In recent times, only Ad Reinhardt compares with Agnes Martin, who has that rarest of gifts among the non-literary, a voice. In a series of articles, some of which were apparently talks given to art students, she delves into consciousness, creativity, judgment, personal development, self-assurance, transcendence, meaning, value. She takes on the big subjects with language that is gloriously unpretentious in a style epigrammatic and occasionally poetic.

Visiting an exhibition of her pencil-grid paintings a few years ago, I experienced the transformative power of her paradoxically simple physical means to create shimmering, magical spaces. The staying power of that work has inclined me to believe that she's one of the greatest painters of the second half of the twentieth century. This book of her writings is a delightful enhancement to that discovery.

Quiet and Quite...
...lovely and profound.

Martin's work here and on the canvas is deceptively simple. Not really about silence but about the possibility of grace and knowledge within.

This book recommended for all artists and lovers of art, life, and silence. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Artforum International, published by Artforum International Magazine, Inc. on February 1, 2005. The length of the article is 1975 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Distant light: Lynne Cooke on Agnes Martin.(PASSAGES)(Obituary)
Author: Lynne Cooke
Publication: Artforum International (Magazine/Journal)
Date: February 1, 2005
Publisher: Artforum International Magazine, Inc.
Volume: 43Issue: 6Page: 27(2)

Article Type: Obituary

Distributed by Thompson Gale ... Read more

Book Description