Dan Graham

Dan Graham (1942, Illinois – 2022, New York) is one of the most influential conceptual artists of his generation and has been part of our program since 1979. Art-historically situated at the intersection of post-conceptual, conceptual, and minimalist art, Dan Graham's oeuvre has made a significant contribution to the consolidation and expansion of all three movements. His artistic practice encompassed curating, writing, performance, installation, video, photography, and architecture. One of his main interests centered on the sociopolitical function of art, which illuminated the symbiosis between architectural environments and their actors, as well as reflecting on the relationship between public and private spheres. Since the late 1970s, Graham has conceived a series of public architectural installations and models, which he developed from geometric forms and realized with glass panels, two-way mirrors, and metal fittings. These mirror structures function as complex instruments of perception and create a dynamic interplay between reflection and transparency. Graham's work blurs the boundaries between architecture, sculpture, and performance and, through the dual phenomenon of spectatorship and spectacle, shows how perception is socially and spatially determined.

Dan Graham’s works can be found in reputable collections around the world, including the MoMa, New York City; Chicago Art Institute; Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington; Tate Gallery, London; Hamburger Kunsthalle; Julia Stoschek Collection, Düsseldorf; K21, Düsseldorf, Germany; Serralves Foundation, Porto; Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, Vienna; Kunsthaus Bregenz; Kunsthaus Zürich; Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, Vaduz; Moderna Museet, Stockholm.