Contemporary Art Shows In December 2024 For Minimalist Art Lovers

As the year draws to a close, there are a great number of exhibitions for lovers of minimalist art this month. Since I don’t want to list them all in this issue (you can find all the exhibitions on the Aesence Map as always), here is a selection of my top shows this month.

In Bath, Francis Gallery is presenting works by Irish artist David Quinn, who sees his abstract, small-format paintings as visual haikus. In New York, Matthew Marks Gallery is showing nine works by Ellsworth Kelly that explore the contrasts of black and white. Also in New York, Tina Kim Gallery is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Ha Chong-Hyun’s “Conjunction” series, which impresses with its unique technique of applying paint to the back of the canvas.

In Berlin, Galerie Bastian is presenting new paintings by Ulrich Erben, which captivate with their geometric color combinations and play of lines. In Seoul, at Gallery Joeun, visitors can experience the exhibition “Identity” by Sung Yeon-Hwa, which focuses on contemporary abstract calligraphy. And finally, Art Basel Miami, along with numerous off-site fairs, is one of the highlights of the year, with leading galleries from around the world presenting important works of art.

This month starts with one of the most important art fairs worldwide. Art Basel Miami attracts leading galleries from five continents, presenting important works by both established and emerging artists. So as a lover of minimalist art, you will not be disappointed.

For example, Tina Kim Gallery (Booth D16) is showing works by artists such as Ha Chong-Hyun and Park Seo-Bo. Mennour Gallery (Booth F21) will be presenting works by artists such as Lee Ufan, Agnes Martin, Richard Serra, Pierre Soulages, Alberto Giacometti and Idris Kahn. And David Zwirner Gallery (Booth D15), visitors can discover works by renowned artists such as Donald Judd, Josef Albers, Ad Reinhardt and Robert Ryman.

Several Offshoot Fairs are also taking place alongside Art Basel Miami. At the Untitled Art Fair, BHAK Gallery is presenting works by Bo Kim and ARDEN + WHITE Gallery is showing works by Gwen Hardie and Luke Diiorio.

At Aqua Art Miami, Alison Milne Gallery is showing works by Alexander Jowett at Booth 227. Jowett’s work focuses on the representation of open meditative spaces. Inspired by Immanuel Kant’s reflections on perception and the philosophy of line, he explores themes of loneliness and existentialism, leaving room for individual interpretation and experience.

Galerie Bastian in Berlin presents the exhibition “Shadow in Light” with new paintings by Ulrich Erben, an important pioneer of abstract painting from Düsseldorf. This fifth solo exhibition of the artist at the gallery will show works characterized by horizontal and vertical line structures as well as geometric color compositions. Erben’s works explore the relationship between color, light and space.

More information: https://www.aesence.com/exhibition/ulrich-erben-shadow-in-light/

Matthew Marks Gallery presents “Ellsworth Kelly: Black and White” at its New York location. On view are nine paintings and sculptures by Ellsworth Kelly, created between 1953 and 2012. The works explore the contrasts of black and white, which Kelly describes as “the total absence of color and the totality of light.”

The exhibition includes a variety of techniques and materials, including multi-part paintings, shaped canvases, and sculptures in bronze and aluminum. These works represent Kelly’s lifelong engagement with line, form, and color.

More information: https://www.aesence.com/exhibition/ellsworth-kelly-black-and-white/

Gallery Joeun presents a solo exhibition with works by emerging Korean artist Sung Yeon-Hwa. Titled “Identity,” this show is Sung’s 9th solo exhibition, featuring 25 new works that explore the passage of time and emotions through contemporary abstract calligraphy.

Sung, a graduate of Keimyung University’s Calligraphy Department, blends traditional Korean paper and calligraphy into innovative forms. The exhibition includes the Identity series, Serenity, and the Flow series, spanning small to large-scale and installation pieces.

More information: https://www.aesence.com/exhibition/sung-yeonhwa-connecting-memory-and-time-through-art/

Tina Kim Gallery presents “Ha Chong-Hyun: 50 Years of Conjunction,” an exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the artist’s Conjunction series. This solo exhibition showcases Ha’s unique method of pressing oil paint through the jute fabric on the back of the canvas.

The series was created during the critical period of Korea’s industrialization and urbanization after the Korean War. Ha Chong-Hyun used abstraction as a quiet form of resistance against the military regime and was part of the Dansaekhwa movement.

More Information: https://www.aesence.com/exhibition/ha-chong-hyun-50-years-of-conjunction/

Francis Gallery Bath presents a solo exhibition with Irish artist David Quinn from 27th November 2024 until 1st March 2025. Quinn (b. 1971) is known for his small-format, abstract and minimalist paintings. He considers his works, which he describes as visual haikus (a traditional Japanese form of poetry consisting of three lines with five, seven and five syllables), to be reflections on the transience of time and an expression of his meditative creative process.

More information: https://www.aesence.com/exhibition/david-quinn-francis-gallery/

See all exhibitions here