Frank Stella

A trailblazer for minimal art, Frank Stella diminished symbolism and representation, reducing the image down to the basic elements of color, shape, and design. His style is defined as severely sparse. Just one year after graduating from Princeton, his work was included in the exhibit “Sixteen Americans” at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Also in 1959, Stella came to be represented by the renowned gallerist Leo Castelli. His work moved away from Abstract Expressionism as he created a flatter surface, and used a minimal color palette. Stella described his notion of a picture as “a flat surface with paint on it—nothing more.”

Subsequent work in the 1960s included shaped canvases, aluminum and copper paintings, and an expansion of his use of colors, sometimes arranging colors in lines of arcs or concentric circles. Later work reacted to Expressionism, in which his art became more painterly and incorporated sculpture through baroque color and design, which tilted and intersected planes of color and shape. Through illusionism he moved away from flat geometric shapes and experimented with combinations of shapes, colors and techniques. He then extended his creativity to c print, set and costume designs, collage, multimedia, and outdoor sculpture. Stella has recreated his style again and again, demonstrating the might of his ability to remain curious.

Hiro Fine Art is interested in purchasing artwork by Frank Stella.