Bruce Nauman

Bruce Nauman (b. 1941, Indiana) is recognized as one of the most influential figures in the development of Conceptual art in the 1970s. An artist known for his diverse use of materials and mediums, he pioneered the use of neon and video as fine art. Primary concerns in his work include language, wordplay, miscommunication, social spaces and studio practice.

Nauman studied art, mathematics and physics during his undergrad at the University of Wisconsin, and then earned an MFA at the University of California, Davis. His practice has been celebrated with a variety of awards, including the Golden Lion at the 53^rd Venice Biennale. In 2004, Time Magazine named Nauman on their list of 100 Most Influential People. Today, his works are found in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, Kunstmuseum Basel, Centre Pompidou (Paris) and Guggenheim Museum (New York), among many others. The artist currently lives in Galisteo, New Mexico, where he has been a resident since 1979.

Related Works

• Francois Morellet is another artist who creates prints in addition to neon sculptures, though his style is minimalist and geometric as opposed to Nauman’s figurative and text-based works. View his work.
• Ed Ruscha was known for his ironic and playful text-based works which captured life in Los Angeles and the iconography of the American West. View his work.