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Today, minimalism colloquially refers to a reduction to essentials of form, color, and function. In fact, minimalism developed from an art movement that peaked in the 1960s and 1970s in the United States. Artists solidly rejected representational art. Minimalist pieces were geometric, often featuring rectangles. From natural materials to primary colors, there were many different ways to approach the new art movement. All of them asked the viewer simply to confront and engage with the physical piece before them; in this way, minimalist was related to conceptual art. According to the Tate, “Aesthetically, minimalist art offers a highly purified form of beauty.”
Some famous minimalists include Sol LeWitt, the prodigious creator of the famous, precise wall drawings. Donald Judd was another minimalist, who used a variety of materials in both color and monochrome. Meanwhile, in Frank Stella's work, bright colors do not necessarily signify any emotion—they’re just there, like the notes of the jazz song inspiring them.
Bringing the aesthetic of minimalism into your home is possible on a budget with some thoughtful purchases. The great minimalists created furniture such as Judd's Prototype Desk and Chairs (1979–80). This piece is now jointly owned by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and The Huntington Library, but check it out to get inspired. Scroll down for some of the pieces which can bring that purified, modern beauty to your home office.
Minimalist Furniture for Modern Sensibilities
Utilitarian Desk

CubiCubi | $79.99
Stylish Swivel Chair

Furmax | $57.99
Jute Rug

nuLOOM | $29.94+
Mid-Century Tree Bookshelf

Rolanstar | $79.99
Speck of Color Rug

nuLOOM | $44+
For the Desktop
Standing Desktop

TheDeskStand | $149
Desk Calendar

papersushi | $12+
Concrete Ombre Pencil Cup

CedarandStoneGarden | $14+
Architectural Laptop Stand

kalibri | $48.99
Acrylic Picture Frame

Ailelan | $13.46
Brass Hexagonal Pen

STOBERI | $32+
Concrete Planter

Mollie MarieCo | $16.99+
Matte Ceramic Vases

SunnysShopLA | $28+
For the Wall
Acrylic Dry Erase Panel

ACUstomCut | $19+
Minimalist Travel Posters

GranitePress | $35+
For Long Workdays
Cute Espresso Cups

FireClayArt | $11+
Bold Coffee Mugs

CallunaCo | $13
Candle Warmer

AThomeDesignGoods | $69
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