Untitled

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.

1961

Married: Barbara Rose

1961

Follows Barbara Rose to Pamplona

Barbara Rose, later a well-known art critic, goes to Spain on a Fulbright fellowship; Stella follows her, and they marry in London that November. On their return to New York the couple move into an apartment near Union Square.

1964

Radio discussion with Judd and Flavin

In a radio discussion of contemporary art with fellow artists Donald Judd and Dan Flavin, Stella sums up his approach: only what can be seen is there — “What you see is what you see.” The tautology later became known as the unofficial motto of minimalism.

mid-1960s

Begins working with master printer Kenneth Tyler

In the mid-1960s he begins his long involvement with printmaking, first working with the master printer Kenneth Tyler at Gemini G.E.L.

1965–1966

Guggenheim: “The Shaped Canvas” and “Systemic Painting”

His work is included in two exhibitions at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum: The Shaped Canvas (1965) and Systemic Painting (1966).