Bruce Nauman

born 1941

Biography

Born in Indiana, USA, Nauman studied at the University of Wisconsin at Madison (first mathematics, then art), and then at the University of California at Davis, where he became an assistant to Wayne Thiebaud and began working with sculptures, performances and film. Upon completion of his Masters degree, Nauman began teaching at the Art Institute in San Francisco whilst expanding his works into the realms of photographs, casts and the infamous works executed in neon tubes.

In 1968 his works were shown at the same time at Leo Castelli's in New York, at the gallery Konrad Fischer in Düsseldorf and at the documenta IV in Kassel.

During the 1970s Bruce Nauman lived, worked and taught in California. He temporarily abandoned the medium video and developed during the 1980s the hanging sculptures of his South America and South Africa series.

In 1989 Nauman's work with wax heads began, which were abandoned in favour of hand casts during the 1990s. They resumed the impressing physical boundary experiences, which had already been part of his performances and the videos he developed.

Nauman has become known to the public as a pioneer and precursor of neon-sculptures and video art. He received the 'Golden Lion' of the Biennale in Venice for his life achievement in 1999.

Images

One Hundred Live And Die 1984 Neon 299.7 x 348.5 x 53.3 cm © ARS, NY and DACS, London 2010. The depiction of artworks herein should not necessarily be considered an intimation of ownership

Double Poke In The Eye II 1985 Neon 61 x 91.4 x 15.9 cm © ARS, NY and DACS, London 2010. The depiction of artworks herein should not necessarily be considered an intimation of ownership