Collection Information

Size: Transcript 36 p.

Format: Originally recorded on 3 sound cassettes. Reformatted in 2010 as 5 digital wav files. Duration is 1 hr., 38 min.

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, painting and filmmaking; her philosophy of art; inspirations; themes in her art.

Biographical/Historical Note

Agnes Martin (1912-2004) was a painter and filmmaker of Galisteo, N.M.

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.

Funding

Funding for this interview 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.

Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Agnes Martin, 1989 May 15. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.