Originally recorded on 3 sound cassettes. Reformatted in 2010 as 5 digital wav files. Duration is 1 hr., 38 min.
Access Note / Rights:
This interview is open for research. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Summary:
An interview of Agnes Martin conducted 1989 May 15, by Suzan Campbell, for the Archives of American Art.
Martin speaks of her family history and early life; her immigration from Canada to the United States; her education; moving from New Mexico to New York City; her discovery of the grid; returning to New Mexico; her writing; nature as inspiration; painting and filmmaking; her writing; her philosophy of art; inspirations; association with other Abstract Expressionists, including Ellsworth Kelly and Barnett Newman; and the themes in her art.
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Agnes Martin, 1989 May 15. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Additional Forms:
Transcript is available on the Archives of American Art's website.
Funding:
Funding for this interview was provided by the Lannan Foundation. Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service. This interview received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative Pool.
Biography Note:
Agnes Martin (1912-2004) was a painter and filmmaker. She was born in Macklin, Canada, and immigrated to the United States at eighteen years of age. She lived in Washington State, New York City, and New Mexico, including towns of Cuba and Galisteo.
Language Note:
English .
Provenance:
This interview is part of the Archives' Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
