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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

“Inspiration is there all the time. For everyone whose mind is not clouded over with thoughts whether they realize it or not.”

Mind Inspiration Realizing Clouded

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

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

“I want to emphasize the fact that we all have the same experience and the same concern, but the artist must know exactly what the experience is. He must pursue the truth relentlessly. Once he sees this fact his feet are on the path. If you want to know the truth you will know it. The manipulation of materials in an artwork is a result of this state of mind. The artist works by awareness of his own state of mind.”

Ifs Knows Want Mind States Facts Artist Results Path Feet Awareness Materials Concern Pursue Manipulation State Of Mind Artwork

Author:Agnes Martin

“My paintings are not about what is seen. They are about what is known forever in the mind.”

Mind Known Forever Painting Perception

Author:Agnes Martin

“To progress in life you must give up the things you do not like. Give up doing the things that you do not like to do. You must find the things that you do like. The things that are acceptable to your mind.”

Giving Mind Progress Giving Up Acceptable Progress In Life

Book:Schriften

Source: Schriften

“The adventurous state of mind is a high house... The joy of adventure is unaccountable. This is the attractiveness of artwork. It is adventurous, strenuous and joyful.”

Mind States Joy House Adventure State Of Mind Joyful Adventurous Artwork Attractiveness

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

“I think our minds respond to things beyond this world. Take beauty: it's a very mysterious thing, isn't it? I think it's a response in our minds to perfection. It's too bad, people not realizing that their minds expand beyond this world.”

People Thinking World Mind Realizing Beauty This World Perfection Response Mysterious Bad People Mysterious Things

Author:Agnes Martin

“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.”

Thinking Mind Firsts Made Stills Vision Happened Tree Satisfied Innocence Grids

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

“I often paint tranquility. If you stop thinking and rest, then a little happiness comes into your mind. At perfect rest you are comfortable.”

Ifs Thinking Mind Littles Perfect Comfortable Paint Tranquility

Author:Agnes Martin

“Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye, it is in the mind.”

Mind Eye Mystery Mystery Of Life

Book:Agnes Martin: the islands

Source: Agnes Martin: the islands

“When you look in your mind you find it covered with a lot of rubbishy thoughts. You have to penetrate these and hear what your mind is telling you to do. Such work is original work.”

Mind Looks Originals Covered Penetrate

Book:Writings

Source: Writings

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

Popular Topics

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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