Minimal Art: The 25 Most Important Minimal Artists

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hello dearest readers and subscribers. Today we take on Minimal Art, presenting a definition, listing the main characteristics and discussing the 25 most important minimal artists. As we only discuss the artists in question briefly, for further reading we highly recommend certain monographic publications (linked in the description). Feel free to share your view on Minimal Art, the selected artists or the video in general in the comments. We value your opinion and love to engage with our readers, so hear you soon!

[@johnblaine1479]

Interestingly most of the influential artists in your list are “ inside” exhibitors, gallery-centred. It would have been interesting to have shown more sculptors who bring their work outdoors to the public rather than housing it in the rarefied spaces of rooms ( relatively speaking ) infrequently visited by the general public. Of course they are personal choices to a degree, leaving out some popular artists like Amish Kapoor, Clement Meadmore, Noguchi etc

[@johndoeusa65]

Terrific video and effort. One of the best art channel I came across recently!

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you very much for your most kind words! Much appreciated

[@bellascharfenstein7650]

The wonder of this is these artists'' concepts and works, while conceived and created so long ago, are completely contemporary. Reflecting on that, one appreciates how ground breaking these artists' works were. It also makes one wonder, where to from here.

[@johannbrandstatter7419]

My guess - it can only get worse !

[@contemporaryartissue]

Dear Bella, thank you for tuning in and for your interesting comment. I could not agree more. Some of these works that were made in the 1960s feel as if they were made today. The esthetics of Minimal Art changed any medium radically and ingeniously. Where to from here? Being as groundbreaking as in the 1960s is in any case impossible in my opinion, not only when it comes to Minimal Art.

[@eoagr1780]

Back to real art

[@ikesweat8749]

#26 Ulrich Rückreim apprenticed as a stone cutter in Duesseldorf he soon developed a minimalist style of displaying his rough hewn blocks of stone in the 1960's. Later on he juxtaposed the rough surfaces with contrasting highly polished adjacent areas. He is Germany's preeminent minimalist sculptor.

[@tekannon7803]

Thank you for this wonderful vidcast. I finally, finally understand minimal art. Grouping 25 artists together allowed my mind to take in what these courageous artists have done. Their world is space, perception and a unique way to work with it. We are able to view the world through new lenses thanks to these brave creators of a new wave!

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi there, thank you for tuning in and for your most kind words of appreciation. I strongly believe the way to understand art movements is by looking at the art itself. With an anthology of works by these 25 artists, one clearly sees how the esthetics of Minimal Art changed any medium or future movement radically, and ingeniously. As a result is no surprise many of these artists are considered as the most important artists of the previous century. And I agree!

[@tekannon7803]

@@contemporaryartissue GGGGGGGGGGreat to hear from you. Well, one thing for sure and that is that coming into a room and seeing a pile of dirt or bricks arranged in a certain way or hundreds of poles or sticks stacked up or placed in a certain way is a long way from what we've known art to be. But seeing many presentations together makes one appreciate each artist's vision on how to create form from the space around it or the inverse. What the minimalists have done is allow a place in our mind for a new world view and therefore allow all the art before them a different way to be viewed as well. It's like the rap music of the art world. The monotone, repeating loops of Rap music made it possible for us to appreciate a well-written song. I try to put in words things that have never been described, so I appologise in advance for the poetic justice I use in constructing my comments.

[@contemporaryartissue]

@@tekannon7803 I agree 100%, and I believe you've succeeded very well in communicating through words, including what you mean with 'the music of the art world' - for instance. What the Minimal Artists understood very well, is that art is all about arranging certain things into the right places. With a limited vocabulary of 'things', putting them into the right place or form is crucial.

[@ET-iy3nv]

Thank you. I really enjoy your channel these days. It's so helpful for me to understand the tendency of the contemporary art. I' m trying to get the better painting as Acrylic painter.

[@rmt3589]

These are amazing! Definitely gonna use these concepts in my dream game!

[@mikebaginy8731]

A very interesting presentation of many fabulous artists and a glimpse of their wonderful work.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi Mike, thank you for watching and for your kind words. Great artists indeed. Baffling these works were made over half a century ago.

[@eligoitein6499]

some MAJOR OMISSIONS in this inventory, making one doubt the accuity of the compiler/ narrator : Ad Reinhardt, Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Irwin, Llotd Hamrol

[@contemporaryartissue]

We have focused on a selection of artist who are quintessential minimal artists, arguably with the exception of Martin. Ad Reinhardt has paintings that are quintessentially minimalist, but is most seen as an abstract expressionist. I feel the same is true with Ellsworth Kelly and Hard Edge painting. Robert Irwin could be added indeed, however not all his work is minimal and is most often referred to as an installation artist instead of a minimal artist. The case for Lloyd Hamrol is slightly different, as he hasn't been as pertinent as the selected 25 artists. However, great suggestions!

[@eligoitein6499]

your counter-contentions to what I wrote are lame attempt to maintain some pseudo-authority which you don't actually have You concede Reinhardt/ why NOT Kelly?/ if Irwin is also an Earthworks artist, so is Smithson, who;s on yr list . .@@contemporaryartissue

[@TD-qi2rw]

So well done!! Keep up the great work.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you so much for your appreciation, and for tuning in!

[@johntaylor6211]

The gallery the work is shown in can make a huge difference to the work . A reflective floor for example can either make or break a work of art. Even down to the shade of white on the painted wall or natural daylight or electric lighting of the space. These are tiny but important details.

[@johnjones3714]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching thanks

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi John, thank you for watching and for your kind words of appreciation.

[@Pistachio._]

thanks for sharing! love minimal art

[@contemporaryartissue]

The pleasure is all mine!

[@sweethomes674]

Excellent explanations

[@jaydubya3698]

Though I think most of the selections on this list are appropriate, the problem with minimalism as an approach is that it bleeds into other areas. I mean, Rothko was probably one of the original minimalists, but he's not here because he's known for being AbEx. Same with Reinhardt. Martin had the same approach as Rothko and a similar philosophy, so why is she here but he's not? Just because she insisted that she wasn't AbEx? In addition, Flavin is more known for Light & Space and Smithson for Land Art (if you've got Smithson here, what about what James Turrell and Rodin Crater?), so that's a bit inconsistent if you're using the "known for" argument. In addition, what about Ellsworth Kelly? John McLaughlin? So I guess my point is if you're going to state that you're going sticking to a strict definition of "minimalism"---minimal approach, use of everyday materials AND not known for any other movement---then you've backed yourself into a corner.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi Jay, thank you for watching and for interesting comment. There is of course a strong overlap in these movements, especially with Colorfield Painting, Minimal Art and Hard Edge Painting. I believe the use of industrial materials is key indicator for Minimal Art, which was the case with Flavin and Smithson. But of course, many of these artists can't be categorized in one single movement.

[@THICCTHICCTHICC]

Martin actually insisted that she WAS an abstract expressionist. She didn't like the minimalists, since at the time they were trying to make art void of emotion/attachment - whereas Martin was trying to make art that was nothing but that.

[@guillermoantoniocorreareye3407]

Thanks for the video of art minimal

[@contemporaryartissue]

The pleasure is all mine, thank you for tuning in!

[@DanielLopes-jt8yl]

I make comment to to Carl Andre work and belabored so deleted. However picking up here hopefully less truncated. What prompted me to say something in the first place-was Andre’s reference to communism. I took to bring up in the deleted post the Russian constructivist use meaning of material and art. I took to differ a bit as the practical purpose of materials to art leans toward socialism. That materials should influence proletariat (workers councils) toward advancing control of the means of production. That materials have a practical esthetic purpose that aligned with it’s use. That workers surrounded by such objects would be influenced by them. Valdimir Tatlin long a favorite of mine I believed was instrumental with Tristan Tzara (Romanian symbolist) in shaping Andre’s art idea. I am not as gifted at unpacking art history or placing it as succinctly as CAI. To degree because it has been long since thinking of these things. Your videos have been great getting me back to such ways. I paint and draw now. No more assemblage or construction but do hope my point is better made here..

[@B88-h6n]

Very nice! thank you!

[@contemporaryartissue]

The pleasure is ours! Thank you for tuning in

[@foxdogs1st]

What is Minimal art with a little more too it called ? Not just shapes ,textures, and colors as presented in video ? I'm think more like a graphic art.

[@giorgimekvabishvili.6376]

And where is Brice Marden or Frank Stella, Ellsworth Kelly?

[@adeptusmechanicus7572]

Where is Rothko?

[@Johnconno]

Well there's Judd, Judd and Judd. His urvre is unmatched.

[@natiplum]

Oooh, is that a fancy american transcription for œuvre? *_,*

[@johnconn982]

Sadly, no mention of Barnet Newman, or Ellsworth Kelly.

[@tonyconvery1225]

or bob law. wth

[@DanielLopes-jt8yl]

Viva Hess! Her work killed her literally due to carcinogens in the materials. Sad. Love her work.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Eva Hess is one of my personal favorites, without any doubt. Thank you for tuning in!

[@johntaylor6211]

The only problem with this kind of Artwork is ... Eighty percent of it only works in a gallery space . Therefore its only really appreciated properly in that space or by photography of the works or video such as this . And photography and videos don't really do the work justice. Thoughts ? Obviously some minimal artworks work tremendous in the environment also . But as an artist myself trying to break through with this type of artwork is extremely difficult to achieve. Because without a gallery to show it in , basically your doomed before you begin.

[@johntaylor6211]

For example for my degree show I produced a monolithic work but had to destroy it after the exhibition. Because what the hell was I supposed to do with it after the show . I couldn't take it home. But I have some documentation of the work. So I could replicate it I suppose.

[@ulbarshar]

RIP Carmen Herrera 🙏

[@contemporaryartissue]

Such an icon, one of my absolute favorite artists ever. Thank you for tuning in

[@margietalk]

6:29, 8:00, 13:50

[@contemporaryartissue]

Bell, De Maria and Sandback as your favorites?

[@margietalk]

@@contemporaryartissue they had installations i can relate to. always nervous about saying favorites, there are such incredible works out there. love the geometrics in these three but they are all interesting.

[@contemporaryartissue]

@@margietalk I agree 100%. One of my personal favorites is Fred Sandback who I did not know before. The simplicity and effectiveness of his practice is stunning.

[@vandolmatzis8146]

I wish I could see Larry Bell sculpture before I diie.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Larry Bell is such a terrific artist! Thank you for tuning in

[@Olivia-bh7vs]

#27 Olivier Mosset

[@contemporaryartissue]

Love Mosset's work!

[@cedarraine7829]

HVAC ductwork

[@Chairman639]

I love minimalism and lots of it!!

[@contemporaryartissue]

That's great! Less is more!

[@lakshmanankomathmanalath]

💙💙💙

[@yonisilver3278]

The monotonous computer voice (with occasional weird pronunciation) is a bit grating…

[@SyedShoaibMahmood]

Kapoor?

[@contemporaryartissue]

Terrific artist! Kapoor isn't part of the historical movement of Minimal Art, rather being a Neo-conceptualist, hence not being included in our selection. But such a terrific artist for sure

[@johannbrandstatter7419]

Fully deserving the minimum of attention !

[@contemporaryartissue]

'Minimal' attention?

[@TauTau1]

no Frank Stella???? pffff.......

[@Hfvvhbbb]

Blinky palermo

[@contemporaryartissue]

Love Blinky Palermo!

[@joeswampdawghenry]

Maybe less when they hatched n died.. N more on zee actual Art herr

[@tomelifeisjustonebig]

Carl Andre is very important. Except to his third wife…

[@maxman8345]

Less is more

[@contemporaryartissue]

Amen!

[@joeswampdawghenry]

2 words.... To big

[@leo_is_not_available]

This video is horrible to watch just because of how it sounds

[@vovavitkovsky4716]

Contemporary Merde.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Dixit Piero Manzoni

[@cliffdariff74]

Sol LeWit, the only artist here... the others totally boring work. Judd, the most boring art of all... Richard Serra is not a minimalist.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi Cliff, thank you for tuning in and joining the discussion in the comments. Why would LeWitt be the only 'true' artist? When it comes to Serra, I believe most of his works - his steel works in particular - are minimal art pur sang, checking all the boxes when it comes to the main characteristics of the movement.

[@johnmackenzie3030]

Donald Judd is SO overrated.

[@johnryskamp2943]

The British are a-visual. They just don't do visual art. Minimal art is not from the 50s at all and doesn't have anything to do with abstraction. It has more to do with Brancusi or Warhol (serial imagery). The main problem with minimalists is that either they don't develop or the quality of their work deteriorates (check out Morris' later work, it's like Stella's later work, godawful). Lewitt was never a major minimalist--Structures is pure conceptualism. What about minimalist painters, Marden or Poons. You think minimalism is only a sculptural movement. What about Rainer, the minimalist dancer? As for Judd, his art is pretty mean-spirited and uninteresting. Serra is really a 4th rate process artist. Also Smithson, he's not a minimalist either. Martin an important artist? You're drinking the Kool-aid. Also, the industrial materials take doesn't go very far. Everything people make is industrial. Since when is Ryman a minimalist? He's just mediocre. I think there is actually a Sandback museum. What a joke!!!

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi John, interesting comment. I'll pick in on a few things along the way; Concerning LeWitt, Minimal Art and Conceptual Art are very closely connected - he is both without any doubt. Of course, Minimal Art is also about painters, we have in fact dedicated a complete video on Minimal Painting on this channel. Industrial materials are omnipresent indeed, but since Minimal Art - so this is a very important historical characteristic. And yes there is a Sandback museum, he is one of my favorite artists without any doubt. So what's the joke exactly? Nevertheless, thank you for tuning in!

[@TauTau1]

I agree with most of what you said except about Serra.... he really presents well the part of minimalism which is about the space and the bodily perception

[@DanielLopes-jt8yl]

I make comment to to Carl Andre work and belabored so deleted. However picking up here hopefully less truncated. What prompted me to say something in the first place-was Andre’s reference to communism. I took to bring up in the deleted post the Russian constructivist use meaning of material and art. I took to differ a bit as the practical purpose of materials to art leans toward socialism. That materials should influence proletariat (workers councils) toward advancing control of the means of production. That materials have a practical esthetic purpose that aligned with it’s use. That workers surrounded by such objects would be influenced by them. Valdimir Tatlin long a favorite of mine I believed was instrumental with Tristan Tzara (Romanian symbolist) in shaping Andre’s art idea. I am not as gifted at unpacking art history or placing it as succinctly as CAI. To degree because it has been long since thinking of these things. Your videos have been great getting me back to such ways. I paint and draw now. No more assemblage or construction but do hope my point is better made here..