Abra Variation I

1960s

Travels in the Middle East

He visits circular-plan cities in the Middle East and is especially intrigued by the arches and decorative patterns he sees in the architecture and art of Iran; these cities will later give their names to works of the Protractor series.

1967

Sets and costumes for Merce Cunningham

Designs the set and costumes for Merce Cunningham's dance piece Scramble.

27. Juni 1968 – 6. Oktober 1968

Exhibition: 4. documenta

1970

Retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern Art in New York presents a retrospective of Stella's work, making him the youngest artist to receive one.

1970

Boycott of the American Pavilion in Venice

Invited to the 35th Venice Biennale, Stella joins a boycott by artists opposed to the US wars in Vietnam and Cambodia and withdraws his works from display at the American Pavilion.

1970s

Introduces relief: “maximalist” painting

He brings relief into his work and calls such painting “maximalist” for its sculptural qualities; in the Eccentric Polygon series the shaped canvases take on still less regular forms and collage elements appear, such as pieces of canvas glued to plywood, and aluminum then becomes the main support of his paintings.