Topic Page: Nauman, Bruce, 1941-
US sculptor and mixed-media artist. He is known for his sculptures incorporating aspects of the human body, as in From Hand to Mouth (1967), and his subsequent performance pieces utilizing film, video tapes, and neon lighting.
Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he studied at the Universities of Wisconsin-Madison (1960–64) and California, Davis (1965–66).
1941-
♦ US artist
Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he studied mathematics and art at Wisconsin University. In the 1960s he became a leading exponent of Conceptual Art, using neon lights and holograms in addition to producing minimalist sculptures from more conventional materials, as in From Hand to Mouth and Six Inches of My Knee Extended to Six Feet (both 1967). From 1970 he worked principally with wood and fibreglass, exploring the relationship between sculpture and the gallery space, producing installations such as House Divided (1983), Room with My Soul Left Out/Room That Does Not Care (1984) and Dream Passage with Four Corridors (1984, Pompidou Centre, Paris). More recent works include the video installations World Peace (1996) and Setting a Good Corner (1999). His sound installation Raw Materials was presented in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern in 2004. In 2009 he represented the USA at the Venice Biennale, winning the Golden Lion Award for Topological Gardens.
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