"Minimalism or minimalist art can be seen as extending the abstract idea that art should have its own reality and not be an imitation of some other thing... With minimalism, no attempt is made to represent an outside reality, the artist wants the viewer to respond only to what is in front of them. The medium, (or material) from which it is made, and the form of the work is the reality.
The development of minimalism is linked to that of conceptual art (which also flourished in the 1960s and 1970s). Both movements challenged the existing structures for making, disseminating and viewing art and argued that the importance given to the art object is misplaced and leads to a rigid and elitist art world which only the privileged few can afford to enjoy.
Aesthetically, minimalist art offers a highly purified form of beauty. It can also be seen as representing such qualities as truth, order, simplicity, and harmony." -- Tate
Here is a brief look at some American minimalists! We encourage you to check out the library's books on each artist & topic!
Untitled 1970, by Dan Flavin
"Dan Flavin was an American artist and pioneer of Minimalism, best known for his seminal installations of light fixtures. His illuminated sculptures offer a rigorous formal and conceptual investigation of space and light, wherein the artist arranged commercial fluorescent blulbs into differing geometric compositions." -- Artnet
"Utilizing fluorescent light tubing available on the commercial market, Dan Flavin created light installations (or "situations" as he preferred to call them) that became icons of Minimalism. Flavin's wall-and-floor-mounted, site-specific fixtures, composed of intersecting and parallel lines of light conventional colors, flood spaces with their glow. A number of the sculptures features tubes traversing corners or doorways, or at a right angle to the wall, further engaging the architecture of a room. As Flavin's installations grew more complex, so too did the spaces built expressly for the purpose of exhibiting them." -- Artsy
To see more of his works: Click here!
Books about American artists:
Between Artists by 
Pen to Paper by 
Two Worlds, 2011 by Carmen Herrera
At 105 years old today, Carmen Herrera continues to influence minimalist artists. She is an abstract painter, sculptor, and minimalist and has been making art for over 70 years. However, she is only recently being recognized for her groundbreaking creations.
"Carmen Herrera is an American-Cuban Minimalist artist working in both sculpture and painting. Having achieved success late in life- she sold her first piece at the age of 89- she is today considered a major figure in geometric abstraction. Born in Havana, Cuba in 1915 as one of seven children, Herrera moved frequently growing up. She went on to study architecture in her home country but moved to New York before completing her degree, instead taking classes at the famed Art Students League. Though highly prolific throughout her life, she remained largely unknown until the Museum of Modern Art acquired one of her paintings in 2004. "-- Artnet
To see more of her works: Click here!
Books about Latin American artists:
Latin American Women Artists of the United States by 
Contemporary Latin American Artists by 
Latin American and Caribbean Artists of the Modern Era by 
Blue Lake Pass, 2006 by Maya Lin
"Maya Lin is a contemporary Asian-American artist and architect best known for her powerful Vietnam Veterans Memorial (1982) in Washington, D.C. Incorporating both industrial materials and altercations to the landscape, Lin's work balances emotional resonance and scientific precision... Over the following decades, she has continued producing both sculptures and memorials around America." -- Artnet
"Lin's longstanding environmental advocacy and her fascination with maps lead her to exploring water as a precious resource in 2007, charting birds-eye views of major bodies of water such as the Hudson, Thames, Yangtze rivers. These wall works, drawings, and large-scale sculptures have been produced using materials including recycled silver, glass marbles and custom-made stainless-steel pins... For Lin, the idea of experience, movement, and nature are integral to her work heightening spatial perception and environmental awareness. Her approach to artmaking often finds its origins in science rather than art, demonstrated in her application of satellite technology and cartographic techniques." -- Pace
To see more of her works: Click here!
DVD/Books on Maya Lin & women in modern art:
Maya Lin : a strong clear vision
Modern Women: Women Artists at the Museum of Modern Art by