Donald Judd

Barbara Haskell, Donald Judd, exh. cat., Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City, 1988, p. 131
Donald Judd, Todd Eberle, et al., Kunst + Design Donald Judd, Stuttgart, 1993, p. 64

As a formative member of the mid-20th century Minimalism movement,  Donald Judd explored several mediums throughout his career, first as an abstract painter, then an art critic and eventually a hybrid sculptor-designer. From the start, he rejected conventional ideas of sculpture and painting, opting for strong geometric forms of a factory or mechanized quality. During the latter half of his career, Judd employed the use of plywood, concrete, various metals and plexiglas to imbue his works with an industrial character. He emphasized the inherent value of objects and their ability to standalone as art, a literalist perspective that he enforced by using specialized technicians for his projects.

Produced in 1985, the present work represents the designer’s innovativeness of space as material. With a minimalist design and great scale, he creates a commanding piece that stands on its own as both sculpture and functional furniture. Judd intended for his work to be viewed as emotionally detached, existing outside of the minimalist aesthetic framework. This Desk Set capture’s Judd’s leaning towards uniformity and complex, regimented construction.