Carl Andre was a prominent American artist associated with the Minimalist movement. He became renowned for his ordered, grid-like sculptures and "floor pieces" made from industrial materials like bricks, metal plates, and timber blocks. Andre's work challenged traditional notions of sculpture by emphasizing material, place, and the viewer's physical experience. His career was also marked by controversy surrounding the 1985 death of his wife, artist Ana Mendieta, for which he was tried and acquitted of murder.