Agnes Martin
b. 1912, Macklin, Saskatchewan, Canada, d. 2004, Taos, New Mexico
Little Sister, 1962
Oil, ink, and brass nails on canvas over wood
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Gift, Andrew Powie Fuller and Geraldine Spreckels Fuller Collection 2000.40
In this intimately scaled painting from 1962, Agnes Martin arranges tiny circles formed from the heads of brass nails within an irregular grid. Little Sister exemplifies Martin's commitment to building a serene sense of repetition and order. Many of her formal and philosophical concerns resonate strongly with Bove's creative approach -- an interest in Zen Buddhism and sensory perception, the use of self-imposed rule systems, and a tender attention to material qualities.
