Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Bruce Nauman Biography
Bruce Nauman, born on December 6, 1941, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a pivotal figure in contemporary art, whose extensive career has spanned a wide array of media including sculpture, photography, neon, video, drawing, printmaking, and performance. Nauman's work is characterized by its exploration of language, the body, and the sprawling nature of human consciousness, making him one of the most innovative and provocative artists of his generation.
Nauman's early life was marked by frequent relocations due to his father's job as an engineer for General Electric, which instilled in him a sense of displacement and an acute awareness of the nuances of space and environment. This nomadic childhood, coupled with a deep-seated interest in music and performance, laid the groundwork for his later explorations in art. Despite initially studying mathematics and physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Nauman experienced a pivotal shift in focus towards art, leading him to abandon his initial fields of study in favor of a more creative pursuit. This decision was crystallized by his transfer to the University of California, Davis, where he completed his MFA in 1966.
Nauman's early work was heavily influenced by his instructors at Davis, including William T. Wiley, Robert Arneson, and Manuel Neri, who encouraged him to challenge conventional forms and explore a variety of media. This period was marked by a profound exploration of the body's relationship to space and the potential of language as a medium for art. His realization that "If I was an artist and I was in the studio, then whatever I was doing in the studio must be art" became a defining principle of his practice, emphasizing the process of art-making over the final product.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Nauman's work became increasingly complex, incorporating neon, video, and performance to interrogate the boundaries of the art object and the role of the artist. His use of neon, in particular, allowed him to explore the interplay between language, light, and space, creating works that are at once visually striking and conceptually dense. His video works, often featuring the artist himself, examine the performative aspects of art-making and the physical presence of the artist in the studio.
Nauman's influence extends beyond his own practice, having played a crucial role in the development of conceptual art, performance art, and body art. His work challenges viewers to reconsider their perceptions of art, language, and the self, making him a central figure in the discourse surrounding contemporary art. His skepticism towards the notion of the artist as a creative genius and his exploration of the studio as a site of both production and contemplation have contributed to a broader understanding of the artist's role in society.
Nauman's contributions to art have been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale and the Praemium Imperiale in Japan. His work has been the subject of major retrospectives at institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate Modern in London, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Despite the breadth of his media and the diversity of his themes, Nauman's work remains unified by a deep engagement with the fundamental questions of human existence and the nature of art itself.
Living and working near Galisteo, New Mexico, Nauman continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art, exploring new technologies and media while maintaining a critical, questioning approach to the creative process. His enduring influence on younger generations of artists underscores his status as a seminal figure in the art world, whose work continues to inspire and challenge in equal measure.
Bruce Nauman Quotes and Sales
of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
If you wish to purchase works by the painter: Contact us
and let us know your request. We will inform you about the
available works. We also offer the possibility to
subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, through which you will be
informed at the beginning of each month about the latest
acquisitions of the art gallery.
You can send us pictures of the work: