Minimalism comprises one of the key movements in post-war art. The term “minimalism” was coined to describe the work of a group of American artists who, in the 1960s, produced a decidedly unexpressionistic, reductive work with a hard industrial feel. While numerous minimalist painters exist, most of the key Minimalists – Andre, Flavin, Judd, LeWitt and Morris – produced sculptures or, as some put it, “specific objects” or “”objects in a world of objects.”
Although none of the artists accepted the term “Minimalism,” their common use of serial, modular or repeating forms, and the abstraction and industrial production of their work drew these artists’ work together. As opposed to the vulgar and populist Pop Art, Minimalism, like conceptualism, considered itself “high art.” These artists aimed to create an art that was non-hierarchical and thus entirely democratic.
With direct access to many of the artists’ archives, this book is the most comprehensive and definitive sourcebook on Minimalism available, examining the movement from its beginnings to its broader cultural influence. he excellent selection of images illustrates the surprising variety of work, and also relates it to other artists such as Eva Hesse and Robert Smithson.
About the Author
James Meyer is a writer and art historian who has been teaching contemporary art and critical theory at Emory University, Atlanta, since 1994. He is a noted specialist and lecturer in Minimalism, as well as other forms of American art of the 1960s and contemporary forms of institutional critique.
About the Publisher
Headquartered in London and New York City, Phaidon is the premier global publisher of the creative arts with over 1,500 titles in print. Working with the world’s most influential artists, chefs, writers and thinkers, Phaidon produces innovative books on art, photography, design, architecture, fashion, food and travel, as well as illustrated books for children.
