New to Minimalist? Start here

19 Famous Minimalist Maalarid You Should Know

If you remember one Minimalist maalari, make it Frank Stella (1936–2024), the name behind Louisiana Lottery Co ja Die Fahne Hoch!. After that come Pierre Soulages, Sol Lewitt, Donald Judd ja Agnes Martin. Our 19 picks go from Lucio Fontana (born 1899) to Rudolf Stingel (born 1956), from 16 countries.

How we picked them. We list the artists our catalogue links to Minimalist, from the most famous down. Artists born after 1955 that we cannot yet check on Wikidata are left out. The Wikipedia number shows in how many of our 32 languages Wikipedia writes about them.

  1. Louisiana Lottery Co teos, autor Frank Stella1Frank Stella
  2. Peinture 222 x 314 cm, 24 février 2008 teos, autor Pierre Soulages2Pierre Soulages
  3. Distorted Cubes Bozuk Küpler teos, autor Sol Lewitt3Sol Lewitt

Quick facts

Minimalist in a nutshell

  • 19Kunstnikud
  • 1899–1956Sünniaastad
  • 16Sünnimaad
  • 4Naised
  • 7Elavad kunstnikud
  • 481Meie kataloogis olevad teosed
Linnad kõige rohkem sünnilaikadega
Malden (1), Rodez (1), Hartford (1), Excelsior Springs (1)
Muuseumid, kus on kõige rohkem olulisi teoseid
MoMA - Museum of Modern Art (5), Art Institute of Chicago (2), Whitney Museum of American Art (1), MASS MoCA (1)

Meet them one by one

The 19 famous Minimalist maalarid, from most famous down

1of 19

Frank Stella

USA From Malden ['Minimalism', 'Post-Painterly Abstraction'] On Wikipedia in 22 of 32 languages

Frank Stella

Frank Stella, kes lahkus 4. mail 2024. aastal 87-aastasena, oli Ameerika kunsti hiigumatus, kompromissitu uuendaja, kelle karjäär ulatus seitsete Kümnete üle ning which challenged konventsionaalseid mõtteid maali, skulptuuri ja arhitektuurse disaini kohta.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

2of 19

Pierre Soulages

From Rodez On Wikipedia in 20 of 32 languages

Pierre Soulages

Pierre Soulages sündis 1919. aastal Prantsusmaal, Rodezes, Aveyronis, ning tema kunstiline teekond sai alguse veel enne teist maailmaüksi, Pariisi muuseumide hallides saleid uurides. Pärast sõjavõidul teenistust asutas ta Pariisis oma stuudio ning esines esimest kez 1947. aastal Salon des Indépendantsi näitusel.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

3of 19

Sol Lewitt

USA From Hartford Minimalism ja kontseptuaalne kunst On Wikipedia in 20 of 32 languages

Sol Lewitt

twentieth sajandi modernismi laabas maailmand, kus väheselgi isik on jätnud nii pikast kui intellektuaalselt sügavast varjust kui Solomon LeWitt. Sündinud 9. september 1928. aastal Hartfordis, Connecticutis, Venemaalt pärit juudi emigrantide peresse, oli LeWitti teekond määratud otsusest eelistada puhtat mõtet pelgale füüsilisele täitmisele. Tema varajaseid aastaid kujundas rangus analüütiline uudishimlikkus – omadus, mida lõi tema õpingute periood Syracuse ülikoolis vahemikus 1945–1949.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

5of 19

Agnes Martin

Ameerika From Macklin Minimalism, Abstraktne ekspressionism On Wikipedia in 15 of 32 languages

Agnes Martin

Agnes Bernice Martin, kes sündis 1912. aastal Kanadas, Saskatchewanist väikses prairies linnakess Macklinis, alustas eluteekonda, mis lõpuks redefineerisid abstraktse kunsti piire. Martin õppis hoolikalt, käinud Western Washingtoni Ülikooli õpetajakol]]ees enne Columbia Ülikooli Teachers College'it, kust ta teenis nii bakalauri kui magistrikraadi.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

6of 19

Lucio Fontana

Argentinast pärit itaalia From Rosario Spatialismi On Wikipedia in 18 of 32 languages

Lucio Fontana

Tema tee algas mitte Itaalias, riigis, mida ta kunstimaastikul tuleks määratleda, vaid Argentinas, Rosario linnas, aastal 1899. Perega tagasi pöördudes Euroopas, neelas ta endasse rikka kultuuripärandi, õppides Brera Akadeemias Milanos ning sukeldudes avantgardisti liikumistesse, mis hakkasid väljakutseid esitama kehtivatele normidele. Alates 1940ndate lõpust algas Fontana ikooniliste lõigatud ja läbi augustatud kangaste seeria – Concetti Spaziali (Ruumilised Kontseptsioonid).

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

7of 19

Eva Hesse

Saksas-ameeriklane From Hamburg Postminimalism, Ekssentriline Abstraktioon On Wikipedia in 20 of 32 languages

Eva Hesse

Sündinud 1936. aastal Hamburgis, Saksamaal, muutus tema varajane elu määramatu sisu poolest natsismi hirmutava varju all. Tema kunstiline haridus algas Brooklynis Pratt Instituudis, jätkus Cooper Unionis ja Yale Ülikooli Kunst- ja arhitektuurikoolis, kus ta kohtas Josef Albersi juhitud ranget materjalide uurimist. See soov juhtis teda mitmekülgsete kunstiliste mõjudeni, alates surrealistlikust vormi ja alateadvuse piltide uurimisest kuni abstraktsionluse gestikaalse energiat ja Hans Arpi ning Jean Dubuffeti biomorfsest skulptuurist.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

8of 19

Robert Mangold

USA From North Tonawanda Minimalism

Robert Mangold

Robert Mangold tõus esile 1960. aastatel Ameerika kunstimaastikul kui murdudeeteline tegelane, kuigi tema mõju ei olnud karge ega demonstratiivne. Sündinud New Yorkis, North Tonawanda linnas aastal eksistentsi, ei olnud Mangoldi tee juhtivaks minimalistlikuks maalijaks kohe selge. Kazimir Malevitši askeetlik geomeetria, Piet Mondriani hoolikalt kalibreeritud kompositsioonid ja Barnett Newmani laiad värvifeldid kõiki kaja andis tema enda unikaadsele visioonile, luues sellele vundamenti.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

9of 19

El Anatsui

From Anyako On Wikipedia in 10 of 32 languages

El Anatsui

El Anatsui, born in Anyako, Ghana in 1944, is an artist whose work transcends categorization. His journey began not with art as a primary focus, but with a deep engagement in textile traditions – his mother was a skilled kente weaver, and he initially studied at the College of Art in Kumasi, Ghana, specializing in painting before shifting towards sculpture.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

10of 19

David Annesley

British From London Geometric Sculpture

David Annesley

Born in London in 1936, Annesley’s artistic identity was forged through a global odyssey that saw him traverse the landscapes of Zimbabwe and Australia before returning to the heart of the English art scene. The trajectory of Annesley’s career was profoundly shaped by his formative years at St Martin's School of Art in London.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

11of 19

Yun Hyong–Keun

South Korean From Ch'ŏngju Dansaekhwa On Wikipedia in 5 of 32 languages

Yun Hyong–Keun

Yun Hyong-keun (1928-2007) stands as a pivotal figure within the landscape of Korean art, his name inextricably linked to the Dansaekhwa movement—a profound response to the turbulent political climate and societal shifts of mid-century Korea. Born in Cheongju, nestled in North Chungcheong Province, Yun’s life was marked by both personal hardship and an unwavering dedication to artistic expression.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

12of 19

Mira Schendel

Brazilian-Swiss From Zurich Abstract Expressionism On Wikipedia in 6 of 32 languages

Mira Schendel

Mira Schendel, born Myrrha Dagmar Dub in Zurich in 1919, was an artist whose life and work were profoundly marked by the tumultuous currents of the 20th century. Born into a Jewish family but baptized Catholic at her mother's insistence, she experienced firsthand the rising tide of antisemitism in Europe.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

13of 19

Wolfgang Laib

German From Metzingen Minimalist Sculpture On Wikipedia in 9 of 32 languages

Wolfgang Laib

Born in Metzingen, Germany, in 1950, Wolfgang Laib has cultivated an artistic practice that transcends the boundaries of traditional sculpture, moving instead into the realm of pure, meditative experience. Operating from a tranquil village in southern Germany while maintaining studios in New York City and South India, Laib’s life is a testament to the pursuit of stillness.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

14of 19

Zarina Hashmi

Briti From Alīgarh Popkunst, Briti pop On Wikipedia in 7 of 32 languages

Zarina Hashmi

zarina hashmi, India päritolu ameerika kunstnik ja grafikaoskustel, sündis 16. juulil 1937. Tema elu loovtöö jäi tähistatuks kodu, pagunuse, piiride, teekonna ja mälu teemadega, peegeldades sügavalt tema enda kogemusi kohustatud liigutajana. zarina hashmi teosest on seostatud minimalistliku liikumisega, kasutades abstrakteeritud ja geomeetrilisi vorme, et tekitada vaatajas vaimne reaktsioon. See teos koos teistega on leitav zarina hashmi kunstiteoste jaotises leheküljel AllPaintingsStore.com. zarina hashmi lahkumine 25. aprillil 2020 tähistas olulise kultuuripersooni kadu.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

15of 19

Alan Charlton

British From Sheffield Conceptual Art On Wikipedia in 4 of 32 languages

Alan Charlton

Alan Charlton (born Sheffield, United Kingdom, 1948) stands as a singular figure in British conceptual art —a practitioner whose unwavering dedication to minimalist principles has yielded a body of work characterized by striking simplicity and profound spatial exploration.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

16of 19

Rudolf Stingel

From Merano vald On Wikipedia in 5 of 32 languages

Rudolf Stingel

Rudolf Stingel astus kunstimaailna stsenääride ette 1980-ate lõpus kui märkimistekas tegelane. Alguses tekkis ta nimi tuntuks tema monokroomsete maaliduste tõttu, kus peamiselt aastatel 1987 kuni 1994 loodud teosed uhusid hõbedast pinda pehmete punase, kollase või sinise alatonidega. Näiteks teos Plan B (200lik), mis katmis Grand Central Terminali ja Walker Art Centeri põrandad lilliliste vaipadega, on selle lähenemise suurepärane näide.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

17of 19

Ha Chonghyun

South Korean From Sunchang On Wikipedia in 2 of 32 languages

Ha Chonghyun

Born in the historic landscape of Sunchang, South Korea, in 1935, Ha Chong-Hyun emerged as a transformative force whose very touch redefined the boundaries of the canvas. After graduating from Hongik University in 1959—studying under masters such as Kim Whanki—Ha began an artistic journey that would move far beyond mere representation.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

18of 19

Carl Andre

USA From Montréal Minimalism

Carl Andre

Kui 1956. aastal liikus ta New Yorki, siis Frampton tutvustas teda Constantin Brâncuși ja Frank Stella keskkonnaga, mis viis lõpuks ühise stuudio jagamiseni Stelliga aastatel 1958–1960. "Lõigatud" skulptuurid: Stuudio jagades Stelliga, arendas Andre välja sarja puidust "lõigatud" skubiure, nagu Radial Arm Saw Cut Sculpture (1959) ja Maple Spindle Exercise (1959).

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

19of 19

Christopher Wilmarth

United States From Sonoma Minimalism On Wikipedia in 1 of 32 languages

Christopher Wilmarth

Born on June 11, 1943, in Sonoma, California, his journey from the quiet landscapes of Sonoma County to the vibrant, intellectual pulse of New York City would define his aesthetic trajectory. After earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the prestigious Cooper Union in 1966, Wilmarth found himself immersed in the burgeoning Minimalist movement.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

Pictures worth knowing

Famous Minimalist works to recognise

  1. Louisiana Lottery Co teos, autor Frank Stella

    Louisiana Lottery Co

    Frank Stella

    1962

  2. Peinture 222 x 314 cm, 24 février 2008 teos, autor Pierre Soulages

    Peinture 222 x 314 cm, 24 février 2008

    Pierre Soulages

    2008

  3. Distorted Cubes Bozuk Küpler teos, autor Sol Lewitt

    Distorted Cubes Bozuk Küpler

    Sol Lewitt

    Borusan Contemporary, Istanbul

  4. Untitled (100 Untitled Works in Mill Aluminium) teos, autor Donald Judd

    Untitled (100 Untitled Works in Mill Aluminium)

    Donald Judd

    1986

  5. Tremolo teos, autor Agnes Martin

    Tremolo

    Agnes Martin

    1962 · MoMA - Museum of Modern Art, New York

  6. Busto femminile teos, autor Lucio Fontana

    Busto femminile

    Lucio Fontana

    1931 · Museo del Novecento, Milano

  7. Hang Up teos, autor Eva Hesse

    Hang Up

    Eva Hesse

    1966 · Art Institute of Chicago

  8. Attic Series VIII teos, autor Robert Mangold

    Attic Series VIII

    Robert Mangold

    1990 · Buffalo AKG Art Museum

When it happened

Minimalist, step by step

  1. 1931
  2. 1962
  3. 1962
  4. 1964
  5. 1964
  6. 1966
  7. 1966
  8. 1968
  9. 1972
  10. 1975
  11. 1983
  12. 1986
  13. 1990
  14. 1990

Fun figures

The numbers behind the list

Just the names

List of 19 famous Minimalist maalarid to know

  1. 1Frank StellaFrank StellaUSA · 1936–2024
  2. 2Pierre SoulagesPierre Soulages1919–2022
  3. 3Sol LewittSol LewittUSA · 1928–2007
  4. 4Donald JuddDonald JuddAmeriklik · 1928–1994
  5. 5Agnes MartinAgnes MartinAmeerika · 1912–2004
  6. 6Lucio FontanaLucio FontanaArgentinast pärit itaalia · 1899–1968
  7. 7Eva HesseEva HesseSaksas-ameeriklane · 1936–1970
  8. 8Robert MangoldRobert MangoldUSA · sündinud 1937
  9. 9El AnatsuiEl Anatsuisündinud 1944
  10. 10David AnnesleyDavid AnnesleyBritish · sündinud 1936
  11. 11Yun Hyong–KeunYun Hyong–KeunSouth Korean · 1928–2007
  12. 12Mira SchendelMira SchendelBrazilian-Swiss · 1919–1988
  13. 13Wolfgang LaibWolfgang LaibGerman · sündinud 1950
  14. 14Zarina HashmiZarina HashmiBriti · 1937–2020
  15. 15Alan CharltonAlan CharltonBritish · sündinud 1948
  16. 16Rudolf StingelRudolf Stingelsündinud 1956
  17. 17Ha ChonghyunHa ChonghyunSouth Korean · sündinud 1935
  18. 18Carl AndreCarl AndreUSA · 1933–1983
  19. 19Christopher WilmarthChristopher WilmarthUnited States · 1943–1987

Good questions

What people ask about Minimalist

Read more

More stories on ArtsDot.com

Other styles

Famous artists of other styles

Other eras

Famous artists of other eras

Keep exploring

Where to go next