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 Bronze Plaque Selections from the Living Series, 1981
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Edition 1 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 o...
Bronze
$9,500
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
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
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
Murano Glass Peacock
Located in Austin, TX
20th Century Venetian Murano Glass Peacock HxWxD: 16" x 3" x 10.5" Base Width: 5.5"
Blown Glass
$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
$28,000
H 46 in W 46 in D 9.5 in
Three - infinite perceptual an immersive ambient color light wall sculpture
By Raymond Graber
Located in San Francisco, CA
ARTWORK VISUALS ARE WORK IN PROGRESS - FINAL ARTWORK VISUALS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST Raymond Graber‘s celestial light sculptures transform the sense of p...
Wood, Lights, LED Light, Neon Light, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$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
Night Stars Van Gogh 1990 Art Glass Vase
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Lundberg Studios Art Glass Vase. Every piece of glass that bears the Lundberg Studios signature represents the finest in contemporary art glass. Crafted by master glass blowers, trad...
Blown Glass
$18,000
H 67 in W 78.75 in D 5 in
The Second Cousin, Contemporary woven paper wall sculpture by Grethe Wittrock
Located in Wilton, CT
The Second Cousin is exemplary of Danish artist, Grethe Wittrock's work which often includes expanses of twisted paper strands in single colors — minim...
Metal
"Pinky" Small Pac-Man Ghost Glass Sculpture
By Dylan Martinez
Located in East Quogue, NY
"Pinky" - Small Glass Pac-Man Ghost Sculpture by Dylan Martinez. Size: 5" h x 4.5" w. Signed on the base by the artist. Each sculpture is unique. These whimsical Pac-Man Ghost scu...
Blown Glass
$3,300
H 51 in W 36 in D 0.5 in
"You Are ...." Contemporary Street Sign Sculpture
By Scott Froschauer
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Scott Froschauer is an experimental artist who lives and works in Los Angeles, where his primary focus is exploring new spaces and techniques for communication. This series "Word on ...
Metal
$6,564Sale Price|20% Off
H 14 in W 9 in D 7 in
Cold Cast Bronze Bust Sculpture of Vincent Van Gogh by British Sculptor Artist
By Anthony D Padgett
Located in Preston, GB
Cold Cast Bronze Bust Sculpture of Vincent Van Gogh by British Artist & Sculptor Anthony D Padgett BA MA PGDip, Born in 1969. Everyone has an idea o...
Cast Stone, Metal, Bronze
$2,350
H 12 in Dm 4 in
David Hostetler Bronze Sculpture Figurative Green Full FigureSmall By Commission
By David Hostetler
Located in Nantucket, MA
The Classic Lady bronze was cast from a wood carving. She is David's most petite sculpture. Movement and grace with the twist at the waist and tilt of the head. She can add beauty to...
Bronze
$9,000
H 49 in W 70 in D 6 in
"Vibrant Conversation", Contemporary Abstract Textile Wall Sculpture
By Marianne Kemp
Located in Wilton, CT
Vibrant Conversation, horsehair, cotton, linen, 49” x 70” x 6", 2018. This vibrant contemporary abstract textile wall sculpture was done by textile artist, Marianne Kemp (b. 1976, W...
Fabric, Textile, Cotton, Tapestry, Linen
Large Purple Pac-Man Ghost Glass Sculpture
By Dylan Martinez
Located in East Quogue, NY
Large Purple Glass Pac-Man Ghost Sculpture by Dylan Martinez. Size: 6 x 6.25 x 6.25" Signed on the base by the artist. Each sculpture is unique. These whimsical Pac-Man Ghost scu...
Blown Glass
Steel & Iron Sculpture Titled: Nail Head
By Chris Riccardo
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
EDUCATION: 1990 - BFA- College of Fine Arts, Boston University, Boston, MA PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: PRESENT STUDIO 740- ARTIST/ STUDIO MANAGER, Helena, MT ASSISTANT CURATOR OF EDUCATION- HOLTER MUSEUM OF ART, Helena, MT 1998-2014 SCULPTURE DEPART. CHAIR/ FOUNDRY DIRECTOR - Armory Art Center,WPB, FL 2012 SUMMER RESIDENT ARTIST @ THE ARCHIE BRAY FOUNDATION, Helena, MT 2010 ELECTED MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY DESIGNED & FABRICATED ANNUAL AWARD - The Arthur R. Marshall Foundation, WPB, FL DESIGNED & FABRICATED SENIOR GIFT SCULPTURE - Northwood University, WPB, FL 2008 DESIGNED & FABRICATED ANNUAL AWARD - Judge Knott Award, Historical Society of Palm Beach County DESIGNED & FABRICATED ANNUAL AWARD - Providencia Award- Palm Beach County Convention Bureau, WPB, FL FINALIST - My Wendy, My Way, Wendy’s International, Dublin, OH 2003 DESIGNED & FABRICATED CEE CEE LYLES MEMORIAL- Veteran’s Park, Ft. Pierce, FL 1998 - 1996 RDK STUDIOS - Owner/Operator, FIne Art Bronze Foundry, Riviera Beach, FL EXHIBITIONS: 2015 CHRIS RICCARDO & FRIENDS, The Art Spirit Gallery of Fine Art, Coure d’Alene, ID 16TH ANNUAL SMALLL ARTWORKS INVITATIONAL, The Art Spirit Gallery of Fine Art, Coure d’Alene, ID 2014 ON & OFF THE WALL: SOFLO CERAMICS, The Art Gallery @ Eissey Campus Gallery ART PALM BEACH, JF Gallery, WPB, FL IN LIQUID 15, Philadelphia, PA 2013 NCECA 2013: Resident Artist Exhibtion, NCECA 18 Hands Gallery, Houston TX ART PALM BEACH, JF Gallery, WPB, FL THE INVISIBLE HOURDE: Unit 1 Gallery, WPB, FL 2012 ARCHIE BRAY @ the Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, Spokane, WA RESIDENT ARTIST EXHIBITION: Bray Warehouse Galley, The Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT MUSES & SIRENS: CHRIS RICCARDO & JACQUES De BEAUFORT, The Art GAllery @ Eissey Campus, PBG, FL PALM BEACH ART & ANTIQUES, JF Gallery, WPB, FL SMALL FAVORS VII- The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA BEYOND THE BRICKYARD ( 4th Annual Juried Exhibition ) Juried by Richard Shaw...
Steel, Iron
Icare
By Patrice Breteau
Located in Miami, FL
Icare is a tall abstract sculpture with a black patina, made by Patrice Breteau, a French contemporary artist. Very slender shape, this bronze ...
Bronze
$7,989
H 100.4 in W 25.6 in D 21.66 in
Presence - Handwoven Form 1 , Contemporary Space Object, Sculptural Form
By Marta Pokojowczyk
Located in Hallein, AT
„Presence” 2018 Pair of twin handwoven textiles, linen yarn, acrylic textile paint, aluminum construction; textiles: 310 x 67 cm; aluminum construction: 255 x 65 x 55 cm. The object...
Metal
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
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". Over the past three decades Holzer has created an impressive oeuvre consisting of objects, sculpture and public art. From marble benches to billboards Holzer's text-based pieces have provoked the public to consider the power structures that surround us. Some of her most famous texts include: "Protect Me From What I...
Pencil
The Future Is Stupid
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Jenny Holzer's provocative (and often amusing) "Truisms” first appeared in the late 1970's as the artist began using language as her medium. Over the past four decades Holzer has cr...
Glass, Etching
Survival Cups
By Jenny Holzer
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Jenny Holzer's profound, menacing and sometimes humorous "Truisms" first appeared in the late 1970's in a variety of forms, but primarily as a type of street art with lists of her s...
Polystyrene, Mixed Media
Sold
H 2.17 in W 2.6 in D 0.44 in
Inflammatory Essays -- Sculpture, Pewter, Text Art by Jenny Holzer
By Jenny Holzer
Located in London, GB
Inflammatory Essays: Shriek When the Pain Hits During Interrogation, 1996 Jenny Holzer Pewter multiple with engraved text With the artist's incised signature and numbering verso Fr...
Metal
Sold
H 2.17 in W 2.6 in D 0.44 in
Inflammatory Essays, Sculpture, Pewter, Text Art by Jenny Holzer
By Jenny Holzer
Located in London, GB
JENNY HOLZER Inflammatory Essays: Shriek When the Pain Hits During Interrogation, 1996 Pewter multiple with engraved text With the artist's incised signature and numbering verso Fro...
Metal