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Historically Significant Works of Minimalist Art That Helped Define the Genre

Sol-LeWitt-Wall-drawing
Sol LeWitt Wall drawing.

The term "minimalism" refers to an aesthetic movement that you can find in many different areas of creative expression, including art, design, music, and literature. It first appeared in the 1960s in the United States as a response to the abstract expressionism that was prevalent at the time.


The artists who practiced minimalism wanted to move away from the expressive qualities of abstract expressionism because they considered the works of that movement to be overly dramatic and emotional, and they believed that the works took away from the fundamental purpose of art. On the other hand, the work of minimalist artists is characterized by the use of straightforward forms and lines. The observer is left to interpret the works for what they are, a purified version of beauty and truth, as all of the components of expression, biography, difficult issues, and societal agendas have been removed.


As a result of the significant emphasis placed on fundamental components, "ABC Art" was and still is another name for "minimalist art." A substantial number of the most influential Minimalist artists were sculptors. Minimalism also spread to other art forms, such as Land Art, in which artworks are created in landscapes by constructing sculptures on and from the soil. Many of the most notable Minimalist artists were sculptors. The light and space movement was also a component of the minimalist movement, and many artists located their practices at the intersection of the two movements.



Many people believe that Asia is where minimalism originated. This theory is supported by the fact that many Western artists, such as Agnes Martin, have incorporated Zen Buddhism into their practices. The concept of "nothingness," found in Hindu scriptures, was an additional source of inspiration for many artists working in the minimalist movement. Mono-ha was Japan's first internationally recognized trend in contemporary art, considered one of Asia's most influential Minimalist movements. Mono-ha, which translates to "School of Things," was a groundbreaking art movement that began in Tokyo in the middle of the 1960s. 


Here are some of the paintings and sculptures we brought as the most famous minimalist artworks that highlight the genre of minimalism.