A hippieera visionary who died of aids in 1988, he has long been influential in europe, where he lived for years. First edition, hardback, artist paul thek exhibition catalogue, 640 pages, very good condition, pages perfect. Paul thek occupied a place between high art and low art, between the epic and. Artists books by the arts council of great britain. Paul thek a portrait of the artist and his friends mark. Paul thek retrospective at the whitney museum the new york. Their friendship is documented in the paul thek archive that deckwitzs family gave on permanent loan to museum boijmans van beuningen in 2011. Paul thek and edwin kleins muchemulated and iconic artists book published in conjunction with thek s 1969 exhibitions that took place in amsterdam at the stedelijk museum, and in stockholm at the moderna museet. The art of the art assignment, published by paper monument, is a collection of art teacher folk wisdom the best classroom assignments that the contributors, most of them artists or art teachers, have given or received or even heard of. Until march 30, 2008 the zkm museum of contemporary art in karlsruhe germany shows the most comprehensive retrospective of his. Oct 22, 2010 paul thek, the subject of a ragged, moving and muchanticipated retrospective at the whitney museum of american art, was only 54 when he died of aids in 1988.
And it is thanks to a recent retrospective in germany that we have the visually intoxicating book titled paul thek. Thek came to art with so much going for him talent, looks, energy and. Aug 31, 2009 there are some artists who are never forgotten simply because other artists will constantly cite them as examples. This book brings together more than 300 of theks worksmany of which are. Images of more than 300 works by this groundbreaking artist document his journey from legendary outsider to central figure in many contemporary art movements. Paul thek if you dont like this book you dont like me at the. Between art criticism, silent revolt and the question. This book shows hundreds of thek \s works that chart his. See more ideas about art, artistic installation and art students league. Szeemann had named one section of the documenta individual mythologies, describing a new kind of art structured around a mythology invented by individual artists, rather than by a culture.
This publication brings together more than 300 of paul thek s 19331988 works many of which are published here for the first time to offer the most comprehensive display of his work yet seen. A sculptor, painter, and one of the first installation artists, paul thek is best known for his installation piece the tombdeath of a hippie 1967, which consisted of a. Sontags book of essays against interpretation which she dedicated to him. The amsterdambased artist franz deckwitz was one of those who assisted thek but he was, above all, a loyal friend. See more ideas about whitney museum, austin kleon and artistic installation. Mar 29, 2012 a new book, draw it with your eyes closed. During his brief life 19331988, he went against the grain of art world trends, humanizing the institutional spaces of art with the force of his humor, spirituality, and character.
Posthumously, he has been widely exhibited throughout the united states and europe, and his work is held in numerous collections including the hirshhorn museum and sculpture garden in washington, dc, the centre georges pompidou, paris, and kolumba, the art mus. Revered for his disarming humor and irreverent handling of artworld proprieties, and much lamented for his premature death from aids at the age of 55, the likes of vito acconci, bruce nauman, mike kelley, john miller, paul mccarthy, kim. A section of the book publishes his letters to peter hujar and susan sontag who proposed to thek and was refused, only to have him propose and her. Paul thek was an american artist known for his eclectic paintings, sculptures, video, and performance work. Dec 11, 2012 harald falckenberg, collector and president, kunstverein hamburg peter weibel, director, zkm center for art and media, karlsruhe robert wilson, theater and visual artist, new york date wednesday. Paul thek november 2, 1933 august 10, 1988 was an american painter and, later, sculptor. Paul thek created his major sculptural installation, technological reliquaries, in the mid1960s. This presentation has been made possible by alexander and bonin, new york and the watermill center collection. Paul thek, untitled 4 ponza landscapes, 1970 line drawing, art drawings. As early as 1956, hujar began taking photographs that showed signs of his particular style and point of view. During his brief life 19331988, he went against the grain of art world trends, humanizing the institutional spaces of art with the force of. A sculptor, painter, and one of the first installation artists, paul thek is best known for his installation piece the tombdeath of a hippie 1967, which consisted of a fullsize cast of his body laid out inside a pink wooden pyramid, and which is now longlost.
Essays byjeanchristophe ammann, margrit brehm, bazon brock, suzanne delehanty. Museum of contemporary art presenting theks work in dialogue with contemporary art by young artists. A document made by paul thek and edwin klein artists books. Paul thek occupied a place between high art and low art, between the epic and the everyday. After meeting artist joseph raffael, hujar accompanied him on a fulbright to italy, where he took many photos. Paul thek was an american painter and, later, sculptor and installation artist. The book, with more than 500 images 300 in color and nineteen essays by art historians, curators, collectors, and artists, investigates thek s work on its own terms, and as a starting point for understanding the work of the many younger artists thek has influenced. Working in new york city during the 60s, paul thek became famous for his series technological reliquaries, also known as meat pieces, unsavory wax sculptures of meat and human limbs enclosed in plexiglas display cases. Paul thek, the artist s artist was an individual creative force who explored the unknown, often overshadowed by his contemporaries, such as warhol, johns, rauchenberg, and lichentenstein to name but a few. There are some artists who are never forgotten simply because other artists will constantly cite them as examples. Diver, a retrospective at the whitney, thek, who had. Verdict nineteen essays by scholars, curators, collectors, and artists, along with a uniquely comprehensive visual record more than 500 images, 300 in color of thek s works, provide ample documentation for artists and art historians to reassess the significance of an artist whose contrarian personality and disregard for art world economics. A section of the book publishes his letters to peter hujar and susan sontag who proposed to thek and was refused, only to have him propose. Thek spent the following decade in europe where his style and artistic output changed drastically.
In 1971, harald szeemann invited the american sculptor and installation pioneer paul thek to contribute to documenta 5. Aug 27, 2015 paul thek 19331988 is considered an artist with cult status. A sculptor, painter, and one of the first artists to create environments or installations, thek came to recognition showing his sculpture in new york galleries in the 1960s. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. The work consisted of a series of wax sculptures depicting parts of the human body. Paul thek in the context of todays contemporary art zkm. In 1950, thek studied at the art students league of new york as well as pratt institute in. In the early 1950s he studied at the art students league. In the early 1950s he studied at the art students league and the pratt institute in new york. Artist s artist falckenberg, harald, weibel, peter on. The following is a transcription of harrell fletchers invaluable transcription of paul theks teaching notes, contained in fletchers booklet theks teaching notes. Paul thek photographed on fire island by peter hujar 1966. Paul thek november 2, 1933 august 10, 1988 was an american painter and, later, sculptor and installation artist.
Luce artist biography paul thek appreciated the beauty in all things, even those that might appear repulsive to others. Paul thek artist, fine art prices, auction records for paul. Paul thek, the artists artist was an individual creative force who explored the unknown, often overshadowed by his. Working in new york city during the 60s, paul thek became famous for his series technological reliquaries, also known as meat pieces, unsavory wax. Paul thek the writing on the wall 1980 available for. Gay pride and selfrepresentation under the lavender scare. Artists artist is rich with images of theks wildly varied work from the 50s to the 80s, and reveals how thek the person sometimes interfered with thek the artist. Diver, a retrospective is the first retrospective in the u. Harald falckenberg, collector and president, kunstverein hamburg peter weibel, director, zkm center for art and media, karlsruhe robert wilson, theater and visual artist, new york date.
A major figure on the 1960s new york art scene, thek also spent time in. Harald falckenberg, collector and president, kunstverein hamburg peter weibel, director, zkm center for art and media, karlsruhe robert. This book shows that thek conceived and executed many of them as essential works of art comparing earlier works with theks writing, this essay seeks to. May 03, 2016 published during the amsterdam exhibition of paul thek, may 1969. Jun 07, 2018 mark thek is the nephew of the late paul thek, an artist who achieved fame for his installation and performance art.
An american sculptor, painter, and installation artist, paul thek 19331988 is. A selection, paul thek, diver, published by whitney museum of american art, new york and carnegie museum. I had two thoughts at a show of a single work by an artist who is now the subject of a remarkable retrospective at the whitney museum, paul thek. Gay in the 1950s, includes neverbeforeseen pieces from harvey. Artist s artist is rich with images of thek s wildly varied work from the 50s to the 80s, and reveals how thek the person sometimes interfered with thek the artist. Where the artist s book should be situated in relation to craft and fine art traditions. Paul thek if you dont like this book you dont like me at the modern institute. Paul thek art monographs and museum exhibition catalogs. From mai 36 galerie, peter hujar, paul thek 1968, vintage silver gelatin print made by the artist, 56. Thek was active in both the united states and europe during his life, staging a number of ambitious installations and sculptural works throughout his lifetime. Casualty of war a sculptors provacative memorial acknowledges the high cost of conflict paul thek s piece pays homage to cruel losses sustained on a battlefield of the artists imagining. Artists artist, edited by harald falckenberg and peter weibel. The notes were generated for a 4d sculpture class at cooper union taught by thek between 19781981 a core class in cooper unions curriculum at the time, as flectcher explains in his introduction.
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