Agnes Martin
Agnes Martin
Agnes Bernice Martin, born in Canada, was an American abstract painter. Often referred to as a minimalist, Martin considered herself an abstract expressionist. Her work has been defined as an "essay in discretion, inwardness and silence"...
NationalityCanadian
ProfessionPainter
Date of Birth22 March 1912
CityMacklin, Canada
CountryCanada
Agnes Martin quotes about
art
The value of art is in the observer.
life
Artwork is a representation of our devotion to life.
paintings
My paintings are certainly nonobjective. They're just horizontal lines.
came grid happened innocence mind painted
When I first made a grid, I happened to be thinking of the innocence of trees, and then a grid came into my mind and I thought it represented innocence, and I still do, and so I painted it and then I was satisfied. I thought, 'This is my vision.'
aggression succeed
I don't think the way to succeed is by doing something aggressive. Aggression is weak-minded.
feeling happiness morning painting people wake
People who look at my painting say that it makes them happy, like the feeling when you wake up in the morning. And happiness is the goal, isn't it?
way born
Doing what you were born to do … That's the way to be happy.
mistake errors track
Of all the pitfalls in our paths and the tremendous delays and wanderings off the track, I want to say that they are not what they seem to be. I want to say that all that seems like fantastic mistakes are not mistakes, all that seems like error is not error; and it all has to be done. That which seems like a false step is the next step.
disappointment discipline paint
It's through discipline and tremendous disappointment and failure that you arrive at what it is you must paint.
forever mind perception
My paintings are not about what is seen. They are about what is known forever in the mind.
thinking tree mind
When I first made a grid I happened to be thinking of the innocence of trees and then this grid came into my mind and I thought it represented innocence, and I still do, and so I painted it and then I was satisfied. I thought, this is my vision.
art inspiration surprise
That which takes us by surprise-moments of happiness-that is inspiration.
art night thinking
I once taught art to adults in a night course. I had a woman who painted her back yard, and she said it was the first time she had ever really looked at it. I think everyone sees beauty. Art is a way to respond
art feelings emotion
Art is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings.