Known for taking art out of the traditional “white cube” of galleries and museums and onto the streets, Jenny Holzer is one of the most potent feminist Neo-Conceptual artists of the 20th century. Her most iconic work critiques the information age and consumerism by reclaiming its primary media — conventional print billboards, storefront posters and LED signs.
“I used language because I wanted to offer content that people — not necessarily art people — could understand,” the Ohio-born Holzer told Interview magazine. She received her MFA in painting from Rhode Island School of Design, where her work was influenced by Abstract Expressionism. It was while in the Independent Study Program at the Whitney Museum of American Art that Holzer became inspired to work at the intersection of public art and language.
In the late 1970s, after becoming an active participant in the downtown Manhattan artist collective Colab, which included Tom Otterness and Christy Rupp, Holzer began to create her legendary “Truisms” series. Printing anonymous one-line aphorisms in bold and italicized text on broadsheets, she pasted them up in public spaces all over New York City. The “Truisms” are provocative in questioning how we receive and process information. The work elicits debate and represents a range of perspectives. In an era that saw the rise of street art and graffiti, Holzer’s pithy word art would also find viewers by way of T-shirts, stickers and park benches, into which her slogans were carved.
Holzer’s more combative “Inflammatory Essays” (1979–82) took the form of mass-produced posters on colored paper — each featuring paragraphs as compared to the punch-line structure of “Truisms.” These touched on subjects such as violence, misogyny, power structures and consumerism, all of which have continued to be central in her work.
Starting in 1982 as part of a Public Art Fund project, Holzer projected “Protect me from what I want” and other “Truisms” on the Spectacolor board, a large computerized light signboard in New York City’s Times Square. Her “Abuse of power comes as no surprise,” which has appeared on T-shirts as part of the series, has taken on new life in an increasingly politically divided America.
Just as it did in the 1970s, the forcefulness of her work continues to make both viewers and the art world stop and pay attention. She has had solo exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Tate Modern in London and elsewhere. She has also created permanent installations including the New York City AIDS Memorial. A 2014 show at New York’s Cheim & Read featured oil-on-linen canvases based on declassified government files pertaining to detainees from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Find Jenny Holzer prints and sculptures on 1stDibs.
Jenny Holzer, Inflammatory Essays: Shriek When the Pain Hits...
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Jenny Holzer (American, b. 1950) Inflammatory Essays: Shriek When the Pain Hits During Interrogation, 1996 Multiple: Pewter multiple with engraved text Dimensions: 6.6 × 5 × 1.1 cm (...
Metal
Jenny Holzer, Inflammatory Essays (twelve works) – 12 Prints from 1982
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Jenny Holzer (American, b. 1950) Inflammatory Essays (twelve works), 1982 Medium: Set of 12 offset lithographs on colored paper Dimensions: 25.4 x 25.4 cm (10 x 10 in) Edition: Issue...
Offset
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...
LED Light
More Trouble Than Thought, Screen Print with Palladium Leaf, 2021
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Manchester, GB
Jenny Holzer, More Trouble Than Thought, 2021 Screen print with palladium leaf finish on paper 23 3/5 × 29 9/10 in (60 × 76 cm) Edition 31 of 125 Hand-signed by artist and numbered ...
Screen
$8,500
Jenny Holzer -USE WHAT IS DOMINANT IN A CULTURE TO CHANGE IT: Signed glass bowl
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...
Blown Glass, Engraving
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 ...
Cotton, Organic Material
Jenny Holzer, AKA: Portfolio of 5 Etchings, Contemporary Art, Signed Print
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Jenny Holzer (American, b. 1950) AKA, 2006 Medium: Set of five etchings, on Magnani Pescia paper (with title page, sheets loose, in original black silk-covered portfolio case) Dimens...
Etching
$553
Torture Is Barbaric -- Print, Postcards, Text Art, Truisms by Jenny Holzer
By Jenny Holzer
Located in London, GB
Truisms [Torture Is Barbaric], after 1994 Jenny Holzer Screenprint on balsa wood multiple with text from the Survival (1983-1985) and Truisms (1977-1979) series Published by Fotofol...
Screen
Jenny Holzer, Water Board 0000090: 2012, Signed Print, Contemporary Art
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Jenny Holzer (American, b. 1950) Water Board 0000090, 2012 Medium: Template reservage technique, on 350 g/qm wove paper Dimensions: 90.5 × 70 cm (35 3/5 × 27 3/5 in) Edition: From th...
Paper
$55,000
Selections from the Living Series: It is hard to know what people want...
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Edition of 3 Acquired by current owner from Sotheby's Sale in 2021 Other works from this series have been acquired by The Whitney Museum of American Art, MOMA, National Gallery of ...
Bronze
Jenny Holzer, Top Secret 32 (from Water Boarding Series), Signed Print
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Jenny Holzer (American, b. 1950) Top Secret 32, 2012 Medium: Template reservage technique, on 350 g/qm wove paper Dimensions: 90.5 × 70 cm (35 3/5 × 27 3/5 in) Edition: From the seri...
Handmade Paper, Other Medium
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...
Lithograph, Offset
Truth Before Power
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Jenny Holzer (b. 1950) is a multi-disciplinary American artist best known for her text-based public art projects. She was the first woman to represent the United States at the 1990 V...
Digital Pigment
End of the USA
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 an emphasis on text, is consistently provocative and occasionally frightening, manipulating the language of both pop culture and government slogan to produce commentary on global issues notably power structures 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 other cities. Composed of anonymous statements, printed on friendly or calm colored papers, the statements were influenced by writings of major political figures such as Emma Goldman...
Offset
Survival Pencils
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Jenny Holzer's menacing "Truisms" first appeared in 1983 when the artist was invited to participate in a group show exploring the themes and dialogue from George Orwell's "1984". O...
Pencil
$200
H 9.5 in W 7.25 in
"Portalito", Abstract Patterns, Geometric Abstraction, Woodcut Monoprint
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Portalito" is an original piece by Alexis Nutini and is made from a woodcut monoprint mounted on panel. This piece measures 7.25"h x 9.5"w. Born in Mexico City, ...
Panel, Monoprint, Woodcut
$357Sale Price|45% Off
H 37.5 in W 18.5 in
Signed Days Gone Mezzotint Print, Contemporary, 1/100, Circa 2000-2009
By Jukka Vanttinen
Located in New Orleans, LA
Vanttinen created this mezzotint in an edition of 100 and it is titled and signed in pencil. Jukka Vanttinen (Finn, b. 1954) Jukka Vanttinen was introduced to the medium of mezzoti...
Mezzotint
$22,000
H 46 in W 46 in D 8.75 in
One Light - immersive infinite perceptual ambient light wall sculpture
By Raymond Graber
Located in San Francisco, CA
Raymond Graber‘s celestial light sculptures transform the sense of perception, challenging the human eye’s sense for scale and time with a transcendenta...
Wood, Lights, LED Light, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Neon Light
$400
H 14.5 in W 9.5 in
"Portal I", Abstract Patterns, Geometric Abstraction, Woodcut Monoprint on Panel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Portal I" is an original piece by Alexis Nutini and is made from a woodcut monoprint mounted on panel. This piece measures 14.5"h x 9.5"w. Born in Mexico City, A...
Panel, Monoprint, Woodcut, Paper
I.D. Bracelet
By Esperanza Cortes
Located in New Orleans, LA
ESPERANZA CORTÉS is a Colombian born contemporary multidisciplinary artist based in New York City. Cortés has exhibited in the United States in solo and group exhibitions in venues including Smack Mellon Gallery, Neuberger Museum of Art, Bronx Museum of Art, Queens Museum, El Museo Del Barrio, MoMA PS1, Socrates Sculpture Park and White-box Gallery in New York City. Nationally Cortes exhibitions include Cleveland Art Museum, OH, CSU Galleries at Cleveland University, OH, Helen Day Art Center, VT and The Lorenzo Homar...
Metal
$34,000
H 48 in W 48 in D 8 in
Thirteen - immersive dimensional perceptual ambient color light wall sculpture
By Raymond Graber
Located in San Francisco, CA
Raymond Graber's celestial light sculptures transform the sense of perception, challenging the human eye’s sense for scale and time with a transcendenta...
Fiberglass, Plaster, Plywood, LED Light, Neon Light
$33,018
H 79.53 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Breach by Tom Price - Large-scale sculpture, mixed technique, vertical
By Tom Price
Located in Paris, FR
Breach is a unique resin sculpture by contemporary artist Tom Price, dimensions are 202 × 45 × 45 cm (79.5 × 17.7 × 17.7 in). The sculpture is signed and comes with a certificate of...
Concrete
Full Set of Hand-Signed Love Neon Posters
By Tracey Emin
Located in London, GB
2014/2015 7 offset lithograph posters Each 70 x 50 cm Edition of 500 Each signed in pen by Tracey Emin Published by Emin International Unframed and in mint condition with the origina...
Paper, Offset
$4,154
H 23.63 in W 23.63 in
If I Could Reach That Field Of Flowers, I Would Die Happy
By Takashi Murakami
Located in Bristol, GB
Offset print with cold stamp Edition 39 of 300 60 x 60 cm (23.6 x 23.6 in) Signed and numbered on the front Mint. Minor imperfections may appear due to the production process
Offset
$78,956
H 17.72 in W 86.62 in D 13.78 in
Synthesis bench by Tom Price - light sculpture and bench
By Tom Price
Located in Paris, FR
Resin, tar, steel, acrylic, LED. 45 cm × 220 cm × 35 cm. Available on commission. Production delay: 8 months. Synthesis Bench is one of Tom Price's 'hybrid' artworks sitting halfway ...
Steel
$5,500
H 16 in W 12 in
Tracey Emin - Be Faithful To Your Dreams, embroidered cotton handkerchief signed
By Tracey Emin
Located in New York, NY
Tracey Emin - Be Faithful To Your Dreams, 1999 Limited edition embroidered cotton handkerchief with embroidered signature and accompanying card Rare vintage collectible for serious T...
Textile, Cotton
$1,250
H 24 in W 18 in
Shepard Fairey "Chaos Mandala 2" Fine Art Screenprint Contemporary Street Art
By Shepard Fairey
Located in Draper, UT
Chaos Mandala 2 is a new colorway of my original screenprint Chaos Mandala. This print merges two seemingly contrasting concepts and aesthetics…chaos and harmony. I have always been ...
Screen
'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 conceptua...
Wood
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 conceptual...
Wood
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 conceptual...
Wood
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 conceptual...
Wood
Untitled (From the Living Series)
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Jenny HOLZER (b. 1950) Untitled from the series THE LIVING SERIES, 1981 Bronze plaque. This work is the artist proof number 2 from an edition of 3 plus 2 artist’s proofs. 10 x 45.5 c...
Bronze
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...
Wood
Delicately Interconnected
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Jenny Holzer's menacing (and sometimes humorous) "Truisms" first appeared in the late 1970s in a variety of formats, but initially as a type of street art. Over the past four decad...
Screen
Ceramic Chargers
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Jenny Holzer's menacing (and sometimes humorous) "Truisms" first appeared in the late 1970s in a variety of forms, but initially oriented towards a type of street art. Over the pas...
Ceramic
Truth Before Power
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Jenny Holzer (b. 1950) is a multi-disciplinary American artist best known for her text-based public art projects. She was the first woman to represent the United States at the 1990 V...
Digital Pigment
Truisms Puzzle
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Jenny Holzer is one of the most important and influential artists of the 20th century. Her body of work, with its emphasis on text, is consistently provocative and occasionally frig...
Lithograph, Offset
Truisms (set of 12), by Jenny Holzer
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Dubai, Dubai
TRUISMS (SET OF 12), 2018 Screenprint on cherrywood 10 x 15 cm Copyright The Artist
Wood Panel, Screen
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...
Lithograph, Offset