Minimalism as a genre occupies various forms of expression across art, design, music, and literature. Developed in the United States in the 1960s, it surfaced as a reaction to Abstract Expressionism. Minimalist artists sought to move away from the expressive characteristics of Abstract Expressionism as they felt those works to be too excessive and emotional, and that they detracted from the essence of art itself. Minimalist artists, in complete contrast, were composed of simple lines and forms. All the elements of expression, biography, complex subjects, and social agendas are removed, leaving viewers to interpret their works for what they are – a purified form of beauty and truth.
12 art portfolio examples to check out before creating yours
Every art portfolio is unique to the artist — but it doesn’t hurt to get some inspiration from established art portfolio websites.
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If you’re an artist who wants to promote your work and earn business, an art portfolio website is a must-have.
We know building your online art portfolio can feel like a daunting task, especially if you’re starting from scratch. That’s where our list of stunning art portfolio examples comes into play. Web and graphic design software offer many opportunities to stretch your creative wings and explore new territory.
12 art portfolios to inspire you to build your own online portfolio
Check out what other professional artists are doing to make their mark in cyberspace.
The animation on Jeffrey Ellis’ site is an excellent way to capture the attention of potential clients right from the start. Most importantly, the vital info is above the fold — you can see examples of Jeffrey’s work without scrolling. It’s a fun teaser that invites you to keep going.
The selection of projects is diverse and shows his talent range. Text appears when you hover over the project images, giving you a preview of the project name and Jeffrey’s role.
Jeffrey’s about page is short and to the point. He shares some of his other skills that fit in with his main line of expertise. Plus, it includes a friendly call to action along with his contact information so potential clients can easily get in touch.
If you like Jeffrey’s portfolio style, grab his cloneable Webflow template.
Alex Fisher
Alex Fisher’s homepage has a lovely palette of colors that shows her attention to detail. Even the mouse cursor — a small diamond shape — adds a nice touch to the overall design. Scrolling down brings up a sliding gallery of her best work, showing off her impressive skills and versatility. Alex offers a variety of art-related services, including illustrations and web design.
The color choices and projects throughout her art portfolio fit together with her overall theme. The design is pleasing and relaxing. Clicking on each project brings up details about the tools she used along with her role.
The navigation bar at the top keeps all important information easily accessible. Site visitors can quickly jump to Alex’s about page, her service descriptions, contact information, or even a small print shop where visitors can purchase prints of some of her illustrations.
Frank Stella, Die Fahne Hoch! (1959)
Frank Stella, Whitney Museum, Gansevoort Street, New York City. Image courtesy of John St John.
A painter, sculptor, and printmaker, Frank Stella is considered to be one of the most influential living American artists. His striped works and monumental prints revolutionized artistic practices in relation to not only Minimalism but also Abstraction. Whilst he cites abstract artists such as Pollock and Kline as his influences, he grew to become one of the founding fathers of Minimalism.
‘Die Fahne Hoch!’ Was named after the official marching song of the Nazis, but appears to be meaningless with the exception of its title. It is one a work within a larger series of black paintings by Stella. In this painting, the lighter lines are in fact raw canvas that was left blank between its broad black stripes. This monochromatic work is one of the best-known works to challenge the Abstract Expressionist movement.
Robert Morris, Untitled (mirrored cubes) (1965/71)
Robert Morris, Untitled (mirrored cubes) (1965/71). Image courtesy of the Tate.
‘Untitled (mirrored cubes)’ not only exemplified Robert Morris as a Minimalist artist, but also a Conceptual one. Morris was performing at a ballet company when he came across large grey painted plywood boxes as stage props. Taking them to his practice, he covered these boxes in mirrors, advancing their visual properties and altering the modes of perception that surrounded them. Walking around these boxes, viewers are forced to confront themselves in their reflections. Suddenly, the act of admiring an artwork is cut by the act of looking. It has been cited to “invade” a gallery space due to this nature, evolving the experience of art beyond the visual.
Agnes Martin, With my Back to the World (1997)
Agnes Martin, With my Back to the World series (1997)
Agnes Martin made works that were non-representational, yet their titles highlighted a strong allure to nature. Martin was known for the grid work in her paintings that blend together Minimalism and Colour Field. She used these grids as an organizational element to her works, creating infinite variations of calming canvases with subtle colors.
Thoroughly influenced by Zen Buddism and Taoism, Martin also led a hermetic lifestyle in New Mexico for most of her life. She was also diagnosed with schizophrenia in her 40s. ‘With my Back to the World’ was made in her mid-80s while she lived in an assisted living facility. Her pastel bands of blue, peach and yellow continued to highlight how art was exclusive of the corrupt outside world, as she reduced her the sizes of her canvases to handle them with more ease.
