Agnes Martin (1912, Macklin, Canada - 2004, Taos, USA) emerged as a key figure in the abstract painting scene of the 1950s and 1960s. Born in a rural Canadian area, she immigrated to the United States in 1932 to become a teacher. Pursuing her passion for art, she studied painting at the University of New Mexico before moving to New York in the 1950s.

In New York, Martin was associated with influential artists such as Jasper Johns and Donald Judd, contributing to the emerging movements of Minimalism and Abstract Expressionism. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, she achieved remarkable success with exhibitions at prestigious institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and the Guggenheim Museum.

Agnes Martin emerged as a key figure in the abstract painting scene of the 1950s and 1960s

However, in the early nineties, exhausted by the urban hustle and bustle and with mental health problems, Martin made the decision to move to Taos, a quiet town in New Mexico, a town famous for its artistic legacy, as it inspired the works of the famous photographer Ansel Adams in 1942 and served as inspiration for the work of Georgia O'Keeffe after her visit in 1929.

In the early nineties, exhausted by the urban hustle and bustle and with mental health problems, Martin made the decision to move to Taos, a quiet town in New Mexico

Immersed in the peaceful landscapes of Taos, she found solace and inspiration among the vast expanse of the natural environment, which allowed her to deepen her artistic practice.

In Taos, Martin's works evolved to reflect themes of simplicity, purity and transcendence. Drawing inspiration from Buddhism, Eastern philosophy and her introspective journey, her paintings display a serene simplicity characterized by delicate layers, fine lines and muted colors. Series such as “The Islands” and “White Stone” resonate with her deep connection to the landscapes of New Mexico, capturing the essence of the calm and harmony she found in the desert landscapes and open skies.

In Taos, Martin's works evolved to reflect themes of simplicity, purity and transcendence. Drawing inspiration from Buddhism, Eastern philosophy and her introspective journey, her paintings display a serene simplicity characterized by delicate layers, fine lines and muted colors

Martin's iconic “Untitled” series explores themes of purity and inner peace through carefully drawn grids and ethereal brushstrokes of color. Through her minimalist compositions, she aimed to convey universal truths and evoke a sense of spiritual transcendence, inviting the viewer to contemplate the beauty and simplicity of existence. Agnes Martin's move to Taos marked an important chapter in her life, allowing her to reconnect with her inner self and cultivate a profound artistic vision that continues to inspire audiences around the world.

Martin's iconic “Untitled” series explores themes of purity and inner peace through carefully drawn grids and ethereal brushstrokes of color.

Through her minimalist compositions, she aimed to convey universal truths and evoke a sense of spiritual transcendence, inviting the viewer to contemplate the beauty and simplicity of existence

Apart from her pictorial works, the artist also wrote and left behind not only a visual legacy, but also a written testimony of her thoughts and philosophy, leaving captivating paragraphs such as the one below:

“We cannot even imagine how to be humble.

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1 can see humility 

Delicate and white 

It is satisfying 

Just by itself

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And Trust 

absolute trust 

a gift

a precious gift

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1 would rather think of humility than anything else.

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Humility, the beautiful daughter

She cannot do either right or wrong

She does not do anything

All of her ways are empty

Infinitely light and delicate

She treads an even path

Sweet, smiling, uninterrupted, free”

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Text from “Agnes Martin: Writings”