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What is the point of Jenny Holzer's art?
1 Answer

While the takeaway of Jenny Holzer’s art is subjective to each individual, her work focuses mainly on the delivery of words and ideas in public spaces with large-scale installations. Shop a selection of Jenny Holzer artwork and prints on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
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Shop for Jenny Holzer Art on 1stDibs
All Things Are Delicately Connected embroidered tea towel
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Washington , DC, DC
Contemplate this though provoking statement with this tea towel designed by Jenny Holzer. Each tea towel is embroidered in the UK and made from 100% organic ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Materials
Cotton, Organic Material
Selection from Living 1980 -1982, Heliogravure, Text Art by Jenny Holzer
By Jenny Holzer
Located in London, GB
Selection from Living 1980 -1982, 1999
Jenny Holzer
Heliogravure, on Zerkall rag paper
Signed and numbered from the edition of 99
Plate: 37 × 55.5 cm (14.6 × 21.9 in)
Sheet: 44.5 ×...
Category
1990s Contemporary More Prints
Materials
Photogravure
USE WHAT IS DOMINANT IN A CULTURE TO CHANGE IT: Signed glass bowl Whitney Museum
By Jenny Holzer
Located in New York, NY
Jenny Holzer
USE WHAT IS DOMINANT IN A CULTURE TO CHANGE IT, 2003
Hand Blown Glass Bowl
4 × 10 × 10 inches
Edition 68/200
Signed and numbered 68/200 on the underside with Holzer's in...
Category
Early 2000s Conceptual Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Blown Glass, Engraving
Truism 'Protect Me From What I Want' (framed)
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Manchester, GB
Jenny Holzer, Truism 'Protect Me From What I Want'
Mixed media on wood
Unframed 10.2 x 15.2 cm (4 x 6 in)
Framed 22 x 27 cm (8.66 x 10.63 in)
Jenny Holzer is an American conceptu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Prints and Multiples
Materials
Wood
Jenny Holzer, Inflammatory Essays 3 - LED Sculpture, Light Art, Text-based Art
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Jenny Holzer (American, b. 1950)
Inflammatory Essays 3, 1982/2002
Medium: Electronic tri-color mini-LED panel, with anodized aluminium housing, incl. power adapter
Dimensions: 10.1 x...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Abstract Sculptures
Materials
LED Light
Half Dead, "Inflammatory Essay" (from Documenta 1982)
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Jenny Holzer is one of the most important and original artists of the 20th century.
Her body of work, with its emphasis on text, is provocative and occasionally frightening, manipulating the language of folk wisdom, pop culture, and government slogan to produce a commentary on global issues including power structures, gender struggle, economics, voting, and warfare.
Holzer's iconic "Inflammatory Essays", produced between 1979 and 1982, were first pasted on walls throughout heavily populated metro areas including New York, and shortly after in other cities. Unsigned and commercially produced, they subverted the conventions of advertising, graffiti, and public art. Each essay was in a different eye-catching color to maximize viewers' attention. It was also helpful when one Essay replaced an older one.
The texts were derived from her childhood interest in rapturous writings. Holzer tried to emulate a similar style for her essays, yet borrowed from political theorists (notably Mao, Lenin, and Emma Goldman...
Category
1980s Conceptual Prints and Multiples
Materials
Lithograph, Offset