Donald Judd
American (Excelsior Springs, Missouri, 1928 - 1994, New York City, New York)Untitled
Judd's stacked boxes are often considered the epitome of Minimalism, just as the artist is often called its foremost practitioner. Judd championed minimalist art for its clear, uncomplicated forms, unfettered by the emotive qualities of the abstract expressionist brushstroke. Over the years, however, other artists and critics have noted that Judd's seemingly mute, rational, and detached sculptures belie an obsession with surface finish and reflectiveness.
Moreover, the creator of these boxes, which appear to be just off the assembly line, was quite involved with the production of his work, though it involved trips to manufacturing plants rather than applying paint to a canvas. Perhaps Judd explained it best: "If my work is reductionist it's because it doesn't have the elements that people thought should be there. But it has other elements that I like."
Keywords
Minimalism, stacks, patterns, vertical
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