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Agnes Martin

Agnes Martin Quotes

Artist

Agnes Martin was a Canadian-born American painter known for her minimalist abstract works. Her paintings are characterized by fine lines and serene tones, reflecting her spiritual philosophy and profound understanding of nature. Martin's artistic career spanned half a century, and her works have had a profound impact on contemporary art.

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All Mind Art Thinking Painting Perfection Perfect Want Art Is Artwork Awareness Beauty Concern Facts Ifs Paint Response Way World Abstract Artist

Famous Agnes Martin Quotes

“Beauty and happiness and life are all the same and they are pervasive, unattached and abstract and they are our only concern. They are immeasurable, completely lacking in substance. They are perfect and sublime. This is the subject matter of art.”

Art Matter Perfect Subjects Concern Substance Abstract Lacking Sublime Subject Matter Life And Happiness

Book:Schriften

Source: Schriften

“Art is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings.”

Art Feelings Emotion Art Is Subtle Concrete Representation

Author:Agnes Martin

“That which takes us by surprise-moments of happiness-that is inspiration.”

Art Moments Inspiration Surprise Moments Of Happiness

Book:Agnes Martin: Exhibition January 22 to March 1, 1973

Source: Agnes Martin: Exhibition January 22 to March 1, 1973

“Pollock was terrific. I think he freed himself of all kinds of worry about this world. Ran around and dripped, and then he managed to express ecstasy.”

Thinking World Kind Art Worry This World All Kinds Ran Ecstasy Terrific Pollock

Author:Agnes Martin

“You can't make a perfect painting. We can see perfection in our minds. But we can't make a perfect painting.”

Mind Art Perfect Painting Perfection

Author:Agnes Martin

“I hope I have made it clear that the work is about perfection as we are aware of it in our minds but that the paintings are very far from being perfect - completely removed in fact - even as we ourselves are.”

Mind Art Made Facts Perfect Clear Painting Perfection Made It

Book:Agnès Martin: the nineties and beyond

Source: Agnès Martin: the nineties and beyond

“When I think of art I think of beauty. Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye it is in the mind. In our minds there is awareness of perfection.”

Thinking Mind Art Eye Beauty Mystery Awareness Perfection Mystery Of Life

Book:Agnes Martin: the islands

Source: Agnes Martin: the islands

“My paintings are certainly nonobjective. They're just horizontal lines. There's not any hint of nature. And still everybody responds, I think.”

Thinking Art Stills Lines Painting Hints Horizontal Horizontal Lines

Author:Agnes Martin

“What I say is that we're capable of a transcendent response, and I think it makes us happy. And I do think beauty produces a transcendent response.”

Thinking Art Beauty Produce Capable Response Transcendent

Author:Agnes Martin

“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”

Thinking Way Firsts Art Said Night Courses Taught Art Is Adults First Time Yards

Author:Agnes Martin

“I would like my work to be recognized as being in the classical tradition (Coptic, Egyptian, Greek, Chinese), as representing the Ideal in the mind. Classical art cannot possibly be eclectic. One must see the ideal in one's own mind. It is like a memory - an awareness -of perfection.”

Mind Art Memories Awareness Ideals Tradition Perfection Chinese Greek Representing Egyptian Eclectic Classical Art

Author:Agnes Martin

“It's not about facts, it's about feelings. It's about remembering feelings and happiness. A definition of art is that it makes concrete our most subtle emotions. I think the highest form of art is music. It's the most abstract of all art expression.”

Thinking Art Facts Feelings Remember Happiness Form Emotion Expression Highest Art Is Definitions Abstract Subtle Concrete Art Expression

Author:Agnes Martin

About the Author

Born: March 22, 1912
Died: December 16, 2004
Known for: Artist
Quotes: 39

Related Topics

Mind Art Thinking Painting Perfection Perfect Want Art Is Artwork Awareness Beauty Concern Facts Ifs Paint Response Way World Abstract Artist

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People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

SchriftenRelated source material

Agnes Martin: Exhibition January 22 to March 1, 1973Related source material

Agnes Martin: the islandsRelated source material

Agnès Martin: the nineties and beyondRelated source material

WritingsRelated source material

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