Agnes Martin Quotes

When I think of art I think of beauty. Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye it is in the mind. In our minds there is awareness of perfection.

The Minimalists are idealist. They want to minimize themselves in favor of the ideal… But I just can’t. You see, my paintings are not cool.

That which takes us by surprise-moments of happiness-that is inspiration.

The main thing in making art often is letting go of your expectation and your idea.

The value of art is in the observer.

Happiness is being on the beam with life – to feel the pull of life

When you look in your mind you find it covered with a lot of rubbishy thoughts. You have to penetrate these and hear what your mind is telling you to do. Such work is original work.

To progress in life you must give up the things you do not like. Give up doing the things that you do not like to do. You must find the things that you do like. The things that are acceptable to your mind.

My paintings are certainly nonobjective. They’re just horizontal lines.

Inspiration is there all the time. For everyone whose mind is not clouded over with thoughts whether they realize it or not.

The worst thing you can think about when you’re working is yourself.

When I first made a grid I happened to be thinking of the innocence of trees and then this grid came into my mind and I thought it represented innocence, and I still do, and so I painted it and then I was satisfied. I thought, this is my vision.

I used to meditate until I learned to stop thinking.

Artwork is a representation of our devotion to life.

When I first made a grid, I happened to be thinking of the innocence of trees, and then a grid came into my mind and I thought it represented innocence, and I still do, and so I painted it and then I was satisfied. I thought, ‘This is my vision.’

I don’t think the way to succeed is by doing something aggressive. Aggression is weak-minded.

Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye, it is in the mind.

It is commonly thought that everything that is can be put into words.

You can’t make a perfect painting. We can see perfection in our minds. But we can’t make a perfect painting.

I’m very careful not to have ideas, because they’re inaccurate.

It’s through discipline and tremendous disappointment and failure that you arrive at what it is you must paint.

I often paint tranquility. If you stop thinking and rest, then a little happiness comes into your mind. At perfect rest you are comfortable.