United States · 1960 – 1975

Minimalism

Minimalism reduces art to its essential elements — form, color, space — eliminating all subjective expression.

Minimalism emerged in the United States in the 1960s as a reaction against Abstract Expressionism. Its artists sought to purify art by eliminating all subjective, narrative or emotional references, reducing it to its most basic elements: simple geometric shapes, uniform surfaces and industrial materials. The viewer and the physical space of the work gained prominence. Minimalism profoundly influenced design, architecture and fashion of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Main characteristics

  • ●Simple, regular geometric forms
  • ●Absence of ornamentation and personal expression
  • ●Use of industrial materials (steel, aluminum, plexiglass)
  • ●Relationship between work and the space it occupies
  • ●Industrial production and serialization

Key works

  • Untitled (Stack) – Judd
  • Monument for V. Tatlin – Flavin
  • Equivalent VIII – Andre