Agnes Martin

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnes_Martin
• https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/agnes-martin/biography/

Agnes Bernice Martin RCA (March 22, 1912 – December 16, 2004) was a renowned American abstract painter celebrated for her minimalist style and abstract expressionism. Born in Canada, she later moved to the United States in 1931, where she pursued higher education and eventually became a U.S. citizen in 1950. Martin's artistic journey commenced in New York City, where she immersed herself in the world of modern art, developing a profound interest in abstraction. While often labeled a minimalist, she identified more closely with abstract expressionism. Her work has been described as "an essay in discretion on inwardness and silence."

Growing up in rural Canada and influenced by the New Mexico desert, Martin's art was characterized by serene compositions featuring grids and lines. Her works primarily utilized monochromatic palettes, with subtle colors like black, white, and brown. Martin's minimalist approach conveyed tranquility and spirituality, often reflected in her paintings' optimistic titles.

Throughout her career, Martin held numerous exhibitions, including over 85 solo shows, and participated in significant events like the Venice Biennale and Documenta. Her work garnered recognition for its unique contribution to contemporary art, and she received accolades such as the National Medal of Arts from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1998. In 2004, she was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.

Despite her personal struggles with schizophrenia, Martin's dedication to her art remained unwavering, inspiring contemporary artists to this day. Documentaries and films have delved into her life and work, shedding light on her artistic process and impact. Beyond the art world, her influence extended to popular culture, evidenced by a Google doodle and a song dedicated to her. Agnes Martin's artistic vision, blending minimalism and spirituality, remains a lasting and influential force in the realm of abstract art.

Personal Life:
Agnes Bernice Martin was born in 1912 to Scottish Presbyterian farmers in Macklin, Saskatchewan, as one of four children. She grew up in Vancouver from 1919. In 1931, she moved to the United States to assist her pregnant sister, Mirabell, in Bellingham, Washington. She preferred American higher education and became a U.S. citizen in 1950. Martin's academic journey led her from Western Washington University College of Education to receiving her B.A. (1942) from Teachers College, Columbia University. It was while living in New York that she developed a profound interest in modern art and considered a career as an artist.

After attending the Summer Field School of the University of New Mexico in Taos in 1947, Martin became intrigued by Asian thought, particularly Zen Buddhism, as a practical guide to life. She eventually matriculated at the University of New Mexico and returned to Columbia University to earn her M.A. (1952) in modern art. In 1957, she relocated to New York City, where she lived in a loft in Coenties Slip in lower Manhattan. The Coenties Slip was a creative hub that fostered a strong sense of community. There, Martin developed her art, alongside fellow artists and friends. Her influence extended to the queer community, as the Coenties Slip was a haven for LGBTQ individuals in the 1960s.

Martin was known to have schizophrenia, a condition that became documented in 1962. Despite her struggles, she remained active in the art world, working with respected psychiatrists from her community. In 1967, she left New York City, and after an 18-month journey across Canada and the western United States, she settled in Mesa Portales, near Cuba, New Mexico (1968-1977). Here, she led a simple life, built her adobe home, and found solace in the New Mexico landscape. It wasn't until 1973 that she returned to art, encouraged by curator Douglas Crimp.

In 1974, Martin worked with architect Bill Katz on a log cabin that became her studio. By 1975, her paintings were regularly exhibited. Later, she transitioned her signature 72 × 72 square paintings to 60 × 60 inches and incorporated bands of ethereal color. Her work often drew inspiration from the desert environment of New Mexico, as well as her upbringing in rural Canada. Despite personal challenges and the development of her own unique style, Martin's dedication to art remained unwavering.

Artistic Style:
Agnes Martin's art is characterized by an emphasis on line, grids, and fields of extremely subtle color. Her signature style featured 6 × 6 foot square canvases covered in intricate graphite grids, often seen as minimalist. Although her work exhibited minimalism in form, it retained a spiritual dimension and traces of the artist's hand, distinguishing it from that of her minimalist counterparts. Her art often demonstrated a strong influence from Eastern philosophy, particularly Taoism.

Over the years, Martin's color palette expanded, and her grids evolved into bands of ethereal color. She developed a unique method to create her art, intuitively marking her canvases. Her works often reflect her deep connection with nature and a profound spiritual dimension. Agnes Martin's legacy endures as a testament to her commitment to exalted subject matter and her ability to transform it into a language of painting that exudes silent dignity.

• Immigration: 1946 - Bernalillo, New Mexico, United States
• Immigration: 1949 - Bernalillo, New Mexico, United States
• Residence: Taos, Taos, New Mexico, United States
• Residence: 1916 - Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Nov 8 2023, 17:54:36 UTC
• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Nov 8 2023, 17:57:11 UTC