F. De Maria Paintings

Walter De Maria was an American artist, sculptor, illustrator, and composer, often associated with Minimalism, Conceptual Art, and Land art. He was born on October 1, 1938, in Albany, California, and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. De Maria studied history and art at the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated with a B.A. in 1959. During his early career, he was involved in the experimental music scene and the Beat movement in San Francisco before moving to New York in 1960.

In New York, De Maria became a significant figure in the avant-garde art scene. He was part of the earthworks movement, along with artists such as Robert Smithson and Michael Heizer. De Maria's work in the 1960s explored simple geometric shapes and industrial materials, contributing to the development of Minimalist art. His pieces were often large-scale and meant to encourage viewers to contemplate space, perception, and the relationship between art, nature, and the universe.

One of his most famous works is 'The Lightning Field' (1977), a land art project located in western New Mexico. The piece consists of 400 polished stainless steel poles installed in a grid array measuring one mile by one kilometer. The poles, which are two inches in diameter and average 20 feet and 7.5 inches in height, are designed to attract lightning and create a spectacular artistic and natural display during thunderstorms.

De Maria's other significant works include 'The New York Earth Room' (1977), an interior earth sculpture consisting of 250 cubic yards of earth spread over 3,600 square feet of gallery space in New York City, and 'The Broken Kilometer' (1979), which consists of 500 two-meter-long solid brass rods arranged in five parallel rows in a gallery space in New York City.

Walter De Maria was a reclusive figure and rarely gave interviews, letting his work speak for itself. His contributions to contemporary art are marked by his exploration of the natural elements and the creation of experiences that challenge the viewer's perceptions of art and environment. De Maria passed away on July 25, 2013, in Los Angeles, California, leaving behind a legacy that has significantly influenced contemporary art, particularly in the areas of installation and environmental works.