Nancy Princenthal's 2015 biography navigates Agnes Martin's resistance to personal narrative

In her 2015 biography, "Agnes Martin: Her Life and Art," published by Thames & Hudson, Nancy Princenthal delves into the artist's aversion to biographical examination. This 320-page work thoughtfully addresses Martin's mental health and sexual orientation, connecting these aspects to her creative output. Princenthal respects Martin's desire for privacy, honoring the silence agreements made by friends after her passing. Born in 1912 in Western Canada to Scottish immigrants Malcolm and Margaret, the details of her father's life remain uncertain. After completing high school in Vancouver, she relocated to Bellingham, WA, under dubious circumstances. In 1930 or 1931, she was employed in Los Angeles by Rhea Gore and her son, John Huston, before embarking on a teaching career in the Pacific Northwest and studying at Teacher's College in 1941, eventually establishing a studio in Coenties Slip, New York, by 1957.