postminimalism

[ pohst-min-uh-muh-liz-uhm ]

noun

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) a style in painting and sculpture developing in the 1970s, retaining the formal simplifications of minimal art, but striving to imbue works with a broad range of meaning and reference and often demonstrating a concern with craft and a kinship with tribal art and sculpture.

Other Words From

• post·mini·mal adjective
• post·mini·mal·ist noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of postminimalism¹

post- + minimalism

Example Sentences

Her music is a kind of impassioned postminimalism characterized by a use of orchestral glissandos and crescendos — slow steady movements of a whole body of instruments.

From Washington Post

But the mastery of David Lang, whose style blends elements of postminimalism, modernism, and conceptualism, is of an unusual sort.

From The New Yorker

“Human Feel Mirror” more closely evokes its precursor, a polyrhythmic sprint with oblique connections to underground rock and postminimalism.

From New York Times

Mr. Argue, 37, has consistently drawn praise for bringing the established language of big-band writing, especially as exemplified by his former teacher Bob Brookmeyer, into meaningful contact with aspects of postminimalism and indie rock.

From New York Times

Punchy “Motor Tours” transition between sections and recall the bustling postminimalism of John Adams.

From New York Times