VITO ACCONCI
VITO ACCONCI
Biography
Since the late Seventies Vito Acconci (New York 1940 – 2017), part of a generation of artists that came on the heels of Minimalism, worked in reaction to the “father-art” to overcome the past with new solutions and approaches. After studying Literature at the University of Iowa (1962-64) and co-founding the independent magazine “0 to 9”, he embarked on a research of expanded writing focusing on his body as expressive mean, on the relation between himself, the others and the architectural space. Some of his best known works from this period are street works that the artist documents with written text, photographs, sounds and videos. Vito Acconci’s work kept evolving in the ‘70s becoming that of an unconventional architect involved in the design of public structures and works, buildings, gardens – some never realised – such as the cultural center and the gallery Storefront in Manhattan (1993) and the Muri Island in Graz (2003).
Vito Acconci was a teacher in prestigious institutions such as: The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax; California Institute of the Arts, Valencia; Cooper Union, New York; School of Art Institute, Chicago; Yale University, New Haven; Parsons School of Design, New York. In 2016, one year before passing away, Vito Acconci and his wife Maria conceived for the MoMA PS1 his retrospective of early works from 1968 to 1976 “Where We Are Now (Who Are We Anyway?)”. Important solo exhibitions in international museums and institutions has preceded this last retrospective: Museum of Contemporary Art Castello di Rivoli, Turin (2010), Argos Center for Art & Media, Brussels (2009), Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (2006, 1978), Musée des Beaux-Art, Nantes and MACBA, Barcelona (2004), Milwaukee Museum of Art (2002), Musée d’art moderne, Saint-Etienne (1994), Center for Contemporary Art Luigi Pecci, Prato and Center National of Contemporary Art, Grenoble (1992), Museum of Modern Art, New York (1988), Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (1980),Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (1978).
Vito Acconci’s work is recognised all over the world as showed by the Sculpture Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award (1997), two New York City Art Commission Awards for Excellence in Design (1999 and 2004), and the several group shows held in institutions such as: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (2019), FRAC Bourgogne, Dijon, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago and Brooklyn Museum, New York (2018), Walker Art Center, Minneapolis (2017), Belvedere, Vienna (2015), Le Tripostal, Lille (2011), Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (2010), National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (2009), Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney (2006, 2002). He also took part in the following international exhibitions: Lyon Biennial (2003, 1995), Sydney Biennial (2002), Documenta VII, VI, V (1982, 1977, 1972), Venice Biennale (1978, 1976), Sao Paulo Biennial (1975). Galleria Fumagalli devoted to Vito Acconci a solo exhibition in 2011 entitled “Space of the Body – works and videos 1969/1986” and in 2013 curated the group show “CORPI IN AZIONE/CORPI IN VISIONE. Artistic experiences and investigations 1965/1980” at the Museo Pecci in Milan.
Biography
Since the late Seventies Vito Acconci (New York 1940 – 2017), part of a generation of artists that came on the heels of Minimalism, worked in reaction to the “father-art” to overcome the past with new solutions and approaches. After studying Literature at the University of Iowa (1962-64) and co-founding the independent magazine “0 to 9”, he embarked on a research of expanded writing focusing on his body as expressive mean, on the relation between himself, the others and the architectural space. Some of his best known works from this period are street works that the artist documents with written text, photographs, sounds and videos. Vito Acconci’s work kept evolving in the ‘70s becoming that of an unconventional architect involved in the design of public structures and works, buildings, gardens – some never realised – such as the cultural center and the gallery Storefront in Manhattan (1993) and the Muri Island in Graz (2003).
Vito Acconci was a teacher in prestigious institutions such as: The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax; California Institute of the Arts, Valencia; Cooper Union, New York; School of Art Institute, Chicago; Yale University, New Haven; Parsons School of Design, New York. In 2016, one year before passing away, Vito Acconci and his wife Maria conceived for the MoMA PS1 his retrospective of early works from 1968 to 1976 “Where We Are Now (Who Are We Anyway?)”. Important solo exhibitions in international museums and institutions has preceded this last retrospective: Museum of Contemporary Art Castello di Rivoli, Turin (2010), Argos Center for Art & Media, Brussels (2009), Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (2006, 1978), Musée des Beaux-Art, Nantes and MACBA, Barcelona (2004), Milwaukee Museum of Art (2002), Musée d’art moderne, Saint-Etienne (1994), Center for Contemporary Art Luigi Pecci, Prato and Center National of Contemporary Art, Grenoble (1992), Museum of Modern Art, New York (1988), Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (1980),Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (1978).
Vito Acconci’s work is recognised all over the world as showed by the Sculpture Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award (1997), two New York City Art Commission Awards for Excellence in Design (1999 and 2004), and the several group shows held in institutions such as: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (2019), FRAC Bourgogne, Dijon, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago and Brooklyn Museum, New York (2018), Walker Art Center, Minneapolis (2017), Belvedere, Vienna (2015), Le Tripostal, Lille (2011), Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (2010), National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (2009), Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney (2006, 2002). He also took part in the following international exhibitions: Lyon Biennial (2003, 1995), Sydney Biennial (2002), Documenta VII, VI, V (1982, 1977, 1972), Venice Biennale (1978, 1976), Sao Paulo Biennial (1975). Galleria Fumagalli devoted to Vito Acconci a solo exhibition in 2011 entitled “Space of the Body – works and videos 1969/1986” and in 2013 curated the group show “CORPI IN AZIONE/CORPI IN VISIONE. Artistic experiences and investigations 1965/1980” at the Museo Pecci in Milan.
Works
Works
Press
artribune.com
14 February, 2014
“Lo studio visit di un genio. Incontro con Vito Hannibal Acconci”
Press
artribune.com
14 February, 2014
“Lo studio visit di un genio. Incontro con Vito Hannibal Acconci”
Exhibitions
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
VITO ACCONCI
Space of the Body – Works 1969-1986
Opening 12 February, 2011
15 February to 30 April, 2011
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Corpi in azione / Corpi in visione
Artistic experiences and investigations 1965/1980
Opening 18 April, 2013
19 April to 15 June, 2013
Exhibitions
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
VITO ACCONCI
Space of the Body – Works 1969-1986
Opening 12 February, 2011
15 February to 30 April, 2011
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Corpi in azione / Corpi in visione
Artistic experiences and investigations 1965/1980
Opening 18 April, 2013
19 April to 15 June, 2013
