Christian Boltanski

Christian Boltanski (1944 – 2021)

Internationally known by his mixed media installations, Boltanski emerged as one of the leading artist in the contemporary art scene since the early 1970s, exhibiting in museums worldwide.

Preoccupied with themes of remembrance, mortality, childhood and the passing of time, his artworks, which include photography, sculpture, painting and installation, often work as narratives that reflect both social spectrums and personal features. Christian Boltanski’s work draws from history, from the most universal to the most intimate, as a way of challenging the present.

Since the beginning of his artistic career in the 70s and 80s, he has recorded and tracked human drama as the subject of his work, in an effort to bring the memory of forgotten tragedies and struggles to the forefront of the here and now.

Boltanski’s recent solo exhibitions include: Busan Museum of Modern art Centre Pompidou (2019), Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo, Japan (2019); The National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan and the National Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan (2019); The Israel Museum, Jerusalem (2018); The Power Station of Art, Shanghai, China (2018); the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2017); Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna, Italy (2017); The Museum of Contemporary Art of Monterrey, Mexico (2016); Instituto Valenciano Arte Moderno (IVAM), Spain (2016); Mac’s Grand Hornu, Belgium (2015); and Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Santiago, Chile (2014).

Boltanski has been recognized with several awards, including the Praemium Imperiale Award (2006) and the Kaiser Ring Award (2001). He has participated in Documenta (1977 and 1972) and numerous Venice Biennales (2011, 1995, 1993, 1980, and 1975).