Brice Marden's art in the 1960s marked the emergence of a distinctive voice within the minimalist movement, a period of experimentation and the foundation of a career that would span over six decades. This era is crucial for understanding Marden's development as an artist and his contributions to the art world. In the early part of the 1960s, after completing his education at Boston University and Yale, where he was influenced by notable artists and developed an interest in minimalist approaches, Marden moved to New York City. The city's vibrant art scene and its exposure to leading artists of the time played a significant role in shaping his artistic direction​ (www.wikiart.org)​. Marden's arrival in New York in 1963 coincided with a period of significant cultural and artistic shifts, providing a fertile ground for his exploration and experimentation. By the mid-1960s, Marden had begun to establish his signature style, characterized by monochrome panels and a nuanced exploration of color and surface. This period was marked by his innovative use of encaustic, a technique that involves suspending pigment in a mixture of oil and beeswax, resulting in luminous, textured surfaces that became a hallmark of his work. The technique allowed Marden to explore the depth and subtlety of color, creating works that were both minimalist in form and rich in visual experience​ (Encyclopedia Britannica)​. During this time, Marden also engaged with the broader art scene in New York, notably working as a studio assistant for Robert Rauschenberg. This experience, coupled with his exposure to the work of Jasper Johns during his tenure as a guard at the Jewish Museum in New York, deeply influenced his approach to art. Marden's early works from this period, such as "The Dylan Painting" (1966) and his first monochromatic single-panel paintings, reflect a minimalist aesthetic combined with a personal exploration of color and form​ (www.wikiart.org)​. The 1960s culminated in Marden's first solo show in New York at the Bykert Gallery in 1966, which showcased his classic oil-and-beeswax paintings. This exhibition marked Marden's emergence as a significant figure in the minimalist movement and set the stage for his subsequent evolution as an artist. His work from this period is characterized by a refined and delicate sense of color, often employing monochromatic or subtly tonal rectangular panels to explore nuanced juxtapositions of tone​ (www.wikiart.org)​. The 1960s were a formative decade for Brice Marden, laying the groundwork for his lifelong exploration of color, form, and the possibilities of painting. His contributions during this time not only established him as a leading figure in the minimalist movement but also foreshadowed his continuous evolution as an artist, constantly redefining the boundaries of abstract painting.