Staff Pick
I often avoid reading biographies about artists whose work I really admire. There’s too much risk involved. Will their overzealous drinking habits or odd attachments to their mothers skew the way I view their artistic creations? With Henry Martin’s biography on Agnes Martin, the risk is worth every single beautifully written page. His thorough research and poetic prose bring to light the struggles Agnes faced in order to find success as an artist and some semblance of peace in her life. She often lived in poverty, cast friends and lovers out, and dealt with the demons of mental illness. Yes, the focus of this bio is the life story of one artist, but the reward comes in great waves of insight into the 1960s and 1970s art scenes of New York City and Taos, New Mexico (think Lenore Tawney, Betty Parsons, etc.). Martin’s story is equally enriched by numerous accounts and letters written by friends, lovers, fellow artists, students, and art dealers detailing the profound effect Agnes had on them. Recommended By Cristina B., Powells.com