Agnes Martin (* 1912), was an esteemed Canadian-American abstract painter renowned for her serene and meditative artworks. Her minimalist paintings are characterized by subtle grids, delicate lines, and soft color palettes that evoke a sense of tranquility and contemplation.
Martin’s artistic career flourished in the 1950s and 1960s, where she became associated with the Abstract Expressionist and Minimalist movements. Her signature style often featured hand-drawn grids or lines meticulously created with a restrained and precise technique, showcasing a deep commitment to simplicity and repetition.
Her paintings, often large in scale, exude a sense of calmness and harmony, inviting viewers into a serene visual experience. Martin’s art was deeply influenced by her interest in Eastern philosophy, particularly Taoism and Zen Buddhism, which emphasized notions of harmony, balance, and the search for inner peace.
1912Born in Macklin, Saskatchewan / Canada
1935–1938Western Washington College of Education, Bellingham, Washington
1941/1942Teacher’s College, Columbia University, New York
1946–1948University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
1950Teacher’s College, Columbia University, New York, Master of Arts
2004Died in Taos, New Mexico / USA
Solo exhibitions (Selection)
2015–2016Agnes Martin. A Retrospective. Tate Modern, London (June -October 2015); Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf (November 2015–March 2016); Los Angeles County Museum of Art (April–September 2016); and Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, (October 2016–January 2017)
2012Agnes Martin: Before the Grid, Harwood Museum of Arts, Taos, New Mexico
2011Agnes Martin / the ’80s: Grey paintings, the Pace Gallery, New York
2010Agnes Martin, Timpthy Taylor Gallery, London
Agnes Martin: Works on paper, The Douglas Hyde Gallery, Trinity College, Dublin
2009–2011Artist Rooms: Agnes Martin, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh; Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge; Tate Modern, London
2008Agnes Martin: Works on Paper, Peter Blum Gallery, New York
Agnes Martin, Thomas Ammann Fine Art, Zurich
2007–2008Agnes Martin: Trajectories, Dia: Beacon, New York
2007Agnes Martin: Homage to (a) Life, Paintings 1990–2004, Dia: Beacon, New York
2006–2007A Field of Vision: Agnes Martin’s Paintings from the 1980s, Dia: Beacon, New York
2006Agnes Martin: Closing teh Circle: Early and Late, PaceWildenstein, New York
2005–2006
To the Islands: Agnes Martin’s Paintings 1974–79, Dia: Beacon, New York
2005‘…unknown territory…’ Agnes Martin’s Paintings from the 1960s, Dia: Beacon, New York
Agnes Martin: On a Clear Day, Craig F. Starr Associates, New York
2004–2005‘…going forward into unknown territory…’ Agnes Martin’s Early Painting 1957–1967, Dia: Beacon, New York
2004Agnes Martin: the Islands, Josef Albers Quadrat Museum, Bottrop
Agnes Martin: Homage to Life, PaceWildenstein, New York
2003Agnes Martin: Recent Paintings, PaceWildenstein, New York
Agnes Martin: Five Decades, Zwirner and Wirth, New York
2002Agnes Martin: The Nineties and Beyond, The Menil Collection, Houston
Agnes Martin Paintings from 2001, The Harwood Museum of Art, the university of New Mexico, Taos
2001Agnes Martin Recent Works, Anthony d’Offay Gallery, London
2000Agnes Martin: Recent Paintings, PaceWildenstein, New York
Agnes Martin: On a Clear Day, Gallery N. von Bartha, London
1999Agnes Martin: New Paintings, 1999, Edinburgh International Festival, Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
1998Agnes Martin: New Paintings, PaceWildenstein, New York
Agnes Martin: Works on Paper, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe
Agnes Martin, Galerie 565, Budapest
Agnes Martin: New Paintings, PaceWildenstein, Los Angeles
1997Agnes Martin: Recent Paintings, PaceWildenstein, New York
Agnes Martin Gallery, Harwood Museum of Art, University of New Mexico, Taos
1996Agnes Martin: New Paintings, PaceWildenstein, Los Angeles
Agnes Martin Paintings and Drawings, Galerie Daniel Blau, Munich
Agnes Martin: New Drawings and Watercolors, PaceWildenstein, New York
Agnes Martin, Annemarie Verna Galerie, Zurich
1995Agnes Martin: Recent Paintings, PaceWildenstein
Agnes Martin, Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina; University Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, University of California, Berkeley
1994Agnes Martin: Paintings from 1991 and 1992, Galerie Michael Werner, Cologne
Agnes Martin: Recent Paintings, Stockholm Konsthall
1993Agnes Martin, Wildenstein Gallery, Tokyo
Agnes Martin: Paintings and Drawings 1977–1991, Serpentine Gallery, London
1992–1994Agnes Martin, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Milwaukee Art Center; Center for the Fine Arts, Miami; Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston; Museo Nacional Centro de Art Reina Sofía, Madrid; Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe
1992Agnes Martin: Werke 1961–1989, Kunstmuseum Winterthur
Agnes Martin, Hochschule für angewandte Kunst
Agnes Martin, Galerie Yvon Lambert, Paris
1991–1992Agnes Martin: Paintings and Drawings 1974–1990, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; Museum Wiesbaden; Westfälisches Landesmuseum, Münster; Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
Agnes Martin: New Paintings, The Pace gallery, New York
1991Agnes Martin, Paintings: 1959–1969, Mary Boone Gallery, New York
Agnes Martin, On a Clear Day, A Portfolio of Prints from the Collection of Donlad Judd, Chinati Foundation, Marfa
1990–1991Agnes Martin: New Paintings, The Pace Gallery, New York
Agnes Martin, Waddington Galleries, London
1990Agnes Martin, Waddington Galleries, London
1989Agnes Martin: New Paintings, The Pace Gallery, New York
Agnes Martin, Akira Ikeda Gallery, Tokyo
Agnes Martin: Recent Paintings, Cleveland Museum of Art
1988Agnes Martin, Barbara Krakow Gallery, Boston
1987Agnes Martin: Peintures 1975–1986, Galerie Yvon Lambert, Paris
1986Agnes Martin: Recent Paintings, Waddington Galleries, London
Agnes Martin: Neue Bilder-Zeichnungen, Annemarie Verna Galerie, Zurich
Agnes Martin: Works on Paper, Garry Anderson Gallery, Sydney
Agnes Martin: New Paintings, The Pace Gallery, New York
1985Agnes Martin: Paintings 1985, The Pace Gallery, New York
Agnes Martin: Recent Paintings, Margo Leavin Gallery, Los Angeles
1984Agnes Martin: Recent Paintings, The Pace Gallery, New York
Agnes Martin: Recent Paintings, The Mayor Gallery, London
1982–1983Agnes Martin: New Paintings, The Pace Gallery, New York
1982Agnes Martin, organized by Glenbow-Alberta Institute, Calgary, Alberta, and the Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon
1980–1981Agnes Martin (exhibition of a set of twelve paintings completed in 1979), organized by the Pace Gallery, New York; Wichits State University; Denver Art Museum; La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art; Seattle Art Museum; Portland Art Museum; Akron Art Institute; Saint Louis Art Museum; Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta; Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon
1980Agnes Martin New Paintings, Watercolors, Richard Gray Gallery, Chicago
Agnes Martin Paintings 1980, The Pace Gallery, New York
1979Agnes Martin: Recent Watercolors, Margo Leavin Gallery, Los Angeles
Agnes Martin: The Islands, Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe
Agnes Martin, The Pace Gallery, New York
1978Agnes Martin, Galerie Rudolf Zwirner, Cologne
Agnes Martin: Watercolors, The Pace Gallery, New York
Agnes Martin: Six New Paintings, The Mayor Gallery, London
Agnes Martin: Drawings of the Sixties, Robert Elkon Gallery, New York
Agnes Martin: Recent Drwaings, Harcus/Krakow Gallery, Boston
1977Agnes Martin: Paintings and Drawings 1957–1975, organized by the Arts Council of Great Britain, London; Hayward Gallery, London; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
Agnes Martin: recent Paintings, The Pace Gallery, New York
1976Agnes Martin: Recent Paintings, The Pace Gallery, New York
Agnes Martin: Paintings 1961–67, Robert Elkon Gallery, New York
1975Agnes Martin: New Paintings, The Pace Gallery, New York
1974On a Clear Day: Screenprints and Drawings by Agnes Martin, Scottish National Gallery Modern Art, Edinburg
Agnes Martin: Drawings 1960 to 1967, Robert Elkon Gallery, New York
Agnes Martin: On a Clear Day, Fine Arts Museum, Santa Fe
1973–1974Agnes Martin, Kunstraum München, Munich; Kunsthalle Tübingen; Kaiser Wilhelm Museum, Krefeld
1973Agnes Martin, Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania; Pasadena Art Museum
Agnes Martin: On a Clear Day, Galerie Yvon Lambert, Paris
Agnes Martin: On a Clear Day, The Museum of Modern Art, New York
1972Agnes Martin: Eight Paintings 1961–1967, Robert Elkon Gallery, New York
1971Agnes Martin, Visual Arts Gallery, School of Visual Arts, New York
1970Agnes Martin: Paintings 1963–1968, Nicholas Wilder Gallery, Los Angeles
Agnes Martin: Drawings 1961–1966, Robert Elkon Gallery, New York
1967October–Agnes Martin, Nicholas Wilder Gallery, Los Angeles
1966Agnes Martin Drawings 1961–1966, Robert Elkon Gallery, New York
Paintings: Agnes Martin, Robert Elkon Gallery, New York
1965–1966Agnes Martin, Nicholas Wilder Gallery, Los Angeles
1965Agnes Martin, Robert Elkon Gallery, New York
1963Agnes Martin, Robert Elkon Gallery, New York
1962Agnes Martin, Robert Elkon Gallery, New York
1961Agnes Martin Paintings, Betty Parsons Gallery, New York
1959–1960Paintings: Agnes Martin, Section Eleven, Betty Parsons Gallery, New York
1958Agnes Martin, Section Eleven, Betty Parsons Gallery, New York
Group exhibitions (Selection)
2011–2012Kindred Spirits: Native American Influences on 20th Century Art, Peter Blum Gallery, New York
Surface, Support, Process: The 1960s Monochrome in the Guggenheim Collection, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
2011Contemporary Collecting: The Judith Neisser Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago
Legacy: The Emily Fisher Landau Collection, Whitney Museum of AMerican Art, New York
The Parallax View, Lehmann Maupin, New York
High Fidelity: Selections from the 1960s and 1970s, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla
2010
On the Square, PaceWildenstein, New York
Calder to Warhol: Introducing the Fisher Collection, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
2010–2011Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in AMerican Portraiture, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Case Studies from the Bureau of Contemporary Art, New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe
On-Line: Drwaing through the Twentieth Century, The Museum of Modern Art, New York
2009–2011Illumination: The Paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe, Agnes Pelton, Agnes Martin, and Florence Pierce, Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, CA; Dayton Art Institute, OH; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C.; The Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum, San Antonio
2009–2010
Elles@centrepompidou, Musée national d’art moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris
The Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collections: Selected Works, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
2009The Thaw Collection of Master Drawings: Acquisitions Since 2002, Morgan Library and Museum, New York
The Third Mind: American Artists Contemplate Asia, 1860-1989, The Salomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
2008–2009New York Cool: Paintings and Sculpture from the NYU Art Collection, Grey Art Gallery, New York University; Palmer Museum of Art, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City; Museum of Art, Brunswick, ME, and Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga
2008Abstract Visions, Thomas Ammann Fine Art AG, Zurich
Collecting Collections: Highlights of the Permanent Collection, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Painting, Drawings, Sculpture: Joseph Albers, Donald Judd, Agnes MArtin, Dunn & Brwon Contemporary, Dallas
Summer in the City 2008, John Berggruen Gallery, San Francisco
2007–2009Lines, Grids, Stains, Words: Minimal Art Drwaings from the Collection of The Musuem of Modern Art, New York, The Musuem of Modern Art, New York; Museu de Arte Contemporanea de Serralves, Porto; Museum Wiesbaden
2007–2008Paper, Fisher Landau Center for Art, Long Island City
The 30th Anniversary: Selected Works form the Collection of the NAtional Museum of Art. Osaka, National Museum of Art
2007Optic Nerve: Perceptual Art of the 1960s, Columbus Museum of Art
Sublime Convergence: Gothic to the Abstract, Richard L. Feigen & Co, New York
Repeat Performances: Seriality and Systems Art Since 1960, Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College
Einfach sehen, Kunsthalle Weishaupt, Ulm
2006–2009Glenstone: The Inaugural Exhibition, Glenstone Foundation, Potomac
2006–2007Nothing and Everything, Peter Freeman, Inc., New York; Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco
2006Line and Surface: Works on Paper, Peter Blum Gallery, New York
Vija Celmins, Ewan Gibbs, Agnes Martin, Timothy Taylor Gallery, London
Where Are We Going?: Selections from the Francois Pinault Collection, Palazzo Grassi, Venice
Full House: Views of the Whitney’s Collection at 75, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
New York New York: Fifty Years of Art, Architecture, Cinema, Performance, Photography and Video, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco
The Skowhegan School of Paintings and Sculpture: 60 Years, Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville
Postwar Directions: Abstract Expressionism to Minimalism, Museum of Ceontemporary Art, Los Angeles
Plane/Figure: Amerikanische Kunst aus Schweizer Privatsammlungen und aus dem Kunstmuseum Winterthur, Kunstmuseum Winterthur
New Frontiers: American Art Since 1945, Oberlin College Allen Memorial Art Museum
Minimalism: On and Off paper, Vivian Horan Fine Art, New York
Elemental Form, L & M Arts, New York
Felix Gonzales-Torres and Agnes Martin, Andrea Rosen Gallery, New York
2005–20063x Abstraction: New Methods of Drawing by Hilma of Klint, Emma Kunz and Agnes Martin, The Drawing Center, New York; Santa Monica Museum of Art; Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
The Perception of the Horizontal, Museum für moderne und zeitgenössische Kunst Bozen / Museo d’arte moderna e contemporanea, Bolzano