Frank Stella, a prominent figure in the minimalist and post-painterly abstraction art movements, passed away at the age of 87 at his home in Manhattan, due to lymphoma. He was born in 1936 in Massachusetts, later moving to New York City in the late 1950s after studying at Princeton University. At that time, abstract expressionism was popular among American artists, but Stella diverged from this trend, venturing into minimalism. His early works were characterized by flat, black paintings with gridlike bands and stripes, created using house paint and exposed canvas, which received critical acclaim.
Stella’s artistic style evolved over the years, retaining the rigor of his early works but incorporating curved lines and bright colors in series such as the Protractor series, which featured large-scale paintings inspired by the geometry tool itself. In the late 1970s, Stella began introducing three-dimensionality into his visual art, experimenting with metals and mixed media to blur the line between painting and sculpture. This innovation contributed to his reputation as a groundbreaking artist within the contemporary art scene.
Even in his later years, Stella remained prolific in his artistic output and continued to push boundaries with his work. Currently, a collection of his new pieces is on display at the Jeffrey Deitch Gallery in New York City. These sculptures, massive in scale yet appearing almost weightless, are characterized by shining polychromatic bands that twist and coil through space, creating a sense of movement and energy. According to Deitch, Stella viewed this latest work as the culmination of decades-long efforts to create a new pictorial space and integrate painting with sculpture.
In a 2021 interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Stella humorously explained why he leaned towards abstract art rather than figurative art, stating that he didn’t like people much and didn’t want to spend time drawing from a model. This preference for abstraction allowed Stella to focus on exploring form, color, and space in his art, abstracting the world around him into geometric shapes and vibrant hues. Through his innovative approach to art-making and his willingness to experiment with materials and techniques, Stella left a significant mark on the art world, inspiring future generations of artists to think outside the box and challenge traditional notions of art.
Frank Stella’s legacy as a pioneer of minimalist and post-painterly abstraction art movements is immense, with his works celebrated for their groundbreaking concepts, geometric precision, and vibrant colors. His contributions to the art world continue to influence contemporary artists and scholars, shaping the discourse around the relationship between painting and sculpture, form and space. Stella’s passing marks the end of an era, but his artistic legacy lives on through his impactful body of work and the lasting imprint he left on the world of modern art.
