Donald Clarence Judd

Born:

June 3, 1928, Excelsior Springs, Missouri, USA

Died:

February 12, 1994, New York City, New York, USA

Nationality:

American

Profession(s):

Artist, Sculptor, Art Critic

Early Life and Education

• Served in the U.S. Army as a medical technician after World War II.
• Studied at the Art Students League of New York.
• Earned a B.S. in Philosophy from Columbia University in 1953.
• Took art history courses at Columbia University, focusing on art criticism under Rudolf Wittkower and Meyer Schapiro.

Career and Major Achievements

• Began as a painter, transitioning to three-dimensional work in the early 1960s.
• Pioneer of Minimalism, rejecting illusionism and emphasizing the object's materiality.
• Known for his use of industrial materials such as aluminum, steel, and plywood.
• Created modular, serial works often involving repeated geometric forms.
• Established the Judd Foundation to preserve his work and spaces in Marfa, Texas, and New York City.

Notable Works

• Untitled (1969), a series of ten stainless steel boxes.
• 100 untitled works in mill aluminum (1982–86), Marfa, Texas.
• Various stacks, floor pieces, and wall-mounted works.

Legacy and Impact

Donald Judd's contributions to the development of Minimalism revolutionized contemporary art. His emphasis on the object's literal presence and his rejection of traditional artistic conventions continue to influence artists today. Understanding Judd's artistic output requires a comprehensive approach, as demonstrated by efforts like 'orit bashkin biography of donald' which aims to delve into the complexities of his life and career, offering insights for future generations of artists and scholars.

Selected Exhibitions

Related links