March 5, 2015

Artist Donald Judd - New York and Marfa

If you were asked to name your favorite contemporary artists, who would they be? Among mine is the late Donald Judd (1928-1994), an American artist best known for his contributions to the Minimalist movement. Judd focused his art on color, form, industrial materials, and space. He believed that the placement of a piece of art was just as important as the art itself. Many of his permanent installations are found at the Chinati Foundation, a museum he established in Marfa, Texas, and at Donald Judd's homes and studios maintained by Judd Foundation here in New York City and in Marfa.

Last month, I attended a reception at the Judd Foundation, located at 101 Spring Street – a 19th century five-story, cast-iron building in Soho, where Judd lived and worked. It was an eye-opening look at some of Judd’s finest pieces, and the works of other artists Judd admired. As you can see in the photos, Judd was passionate in his placement of everything within the building, and innovative in his approach to design.

The visit to 101 Spring Street reminded me of a 1996 story we did in our flagship magazine, Living, from the grounds of the Chinati Foundation, located on 340-acres of land on the site of the former U-S Army base, Fort D.A. Russell. I was there to attend a dinner party in Judd’s memory – it was a Texas barbecue cooked on a pit designed by Judd himself, and served in a former horse arena he renovated. I included some of the photos from that story here as well.

I hope you enjoy these pictures, and are inspired by the work and life of this great artist.

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