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Glite Dictionary
minimal art

minimal art

7.7
An art movement from the 1950s that uses very simple shapes and few colors in sculpture and painting
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪnɪməl ɑrt/
translation icon : arte minimal
  • Many artists in the late 20th century embraced minimal art for its emphasis on simple forms and colors.

And Donald Judd, who's really the father of minimal art, was looking for a place to live and work.

Examples

  • And Donald Judd, who's really the father of minimal art, was looking for a place to live and work.

    Rich Roll

  • Land art, Minimal art,

    Academic text (2004)

  • Fried's essay on "Art and Objecthood," first published in 1967, is a critique of a tendency in Minimal art towards "corrupted or perverted" modes of representation which he associates with "theatricality."

    Academic text (1993)

  • The exhibition featured various styles, but minimal art stood out due to its striking simplicity.

  • In the world of contemporary galleries, minimal art continues to influence new generations of creators.

Synonyms

minimalism
vsminimal art
5 6.5

A style in painting, sculpture, and design using very simple shapes and few colors

focuses specifically on simplification in sculpture and painting
reductivism
vsminimal art
  • Specialized
9.9

An art style in painting and sculpture that makes shapes and colors very simple

is the same movement expressed as a general art label

Antonyms

intricate artwork
5.3

A piece like a painting or carving with many small, careful details

Surface Forms

minimal art singular
minimal arts plural

Morphology

minimal + art

The phrase denotes art that uses the least amount of form or detail, which is directly and compositionally derivable from 'minimal' (least amount) + 'art' (artworks). Even though it can refer to a specific historical movement, the basic meaning 'art characterized by minimal elements' is transparent and predictable for a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Minimal art comes from the idea of minimal meaning very small or simple, and art meaning creative work. Artists removed extra detail and used plain shapes or single lights, so the phrase now means 'art made with very few parts or colors'.