Agnes in Flower

Those with a penchant for abstract expressionism will be counting the minutes till Agnes Martin’s Blue Flower goes under the hammer at Skinner’s American & European Paintings sale, set down for Thursday, May 29. Selling as Lot 397, this 1962 creation is a rare offering from Ms. Martin’s catalog and is expected to fetch close to $2 Million dollars.

Agnes Martins Blue Flower

Martin’s work has long been a source of debate. Often referred to as a minimalist, she always considered herself an abstract expressionist, although her works were often more contemplative than that of her colleagues.

Growing up in Vancouver, Agnes Martin moved to the United States in 1931, becoming an American citizen in 1940. In 1957 she moved to New York, and had her first show at Parsons a year later. It was shortly after this that she began to develop the square, grid-like compositions that lead to Blue Flower.

Lot 249, Thomas Morans Coast of Monterey

Martin left New York City in 1967 and settled in New Mexico. She built an adobe home for herself, where she lived alone the rest of her days. She was awarded a National Medal of Arts from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1998.

Lot 369, Aristide Maillols Petite Flore drapée, and Lot 242, Pink Rose by Martin Johnson Heade

Skinner’s May American & European Paintings sale includes a stunning array of paintings, sculpture and drawings. Included among the 232 lots on offer are works by Thomas Moran, William Glackens, Norman Rockwell, Jane Peterson, Pavel Tchelitchew, Jesús Rafael Soto, Martin Johnson Heade, Aristide Maillol and others.

Look now at the full catalog for Skinner’s American & European Paintings sale.