Joseph Beuys

1921–1986

Joseph Beuys, ‘7000 Oak Trees’ 1982
7000 Oak Trees 1982
© DACS, 2019
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In Tate Modern

Artist and Society: Joseph Beuys

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In Tate Liverpool

Constellations: Lynda Benglis

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Rooms

6 artworks by Joseph Beuys
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Biography

Joseph Beuys ( BOYSS, German: [ˈjoːzɛf ˈbɔʏs]; 12 May 1921 – 23 January 1986) was a German Fluxus, happening, and performance artist as well as a painter, sculptor, medallist, installation artist, graphic artist, art theorist, and pedagogue.

His extensive work is grounded in concepts of humanism, social philosophy and anthroposophy; it culminates in his "extended definition of art" and the idea of social sculpture as a gesamtkunstwerk, for which he claimed a creative, participatory role in shaping society and politics. His career was characterized by open public debates on a very wide range of subjects including political, environmental, social and long term cultural trends. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the second half of the 20th century.

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Conceptual art Environmental art Fluxus 5 more art terms …

Artworks

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Artist as subject

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Film and audio

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Features

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  • Maurizio Cattelan Installation view of All at Kunsthaus Bregenz 2007

    Tate Etc

    Now is for ever, again: The everyday

    Francesco Bonami

    From Gabriel Orozco’s exhibition of yoghurt pot lids to Rirkrit Tiravanija’s transformation of a gallery into a kitchen to serve ...
  •

    Tate Etc

    Opinion: Art and Democracy

    John-Paul Stonard

    A response to Ai Weiwei's quotation on art's relation to democracy
  • Joseph Kosuth, ‘Clock (One and Five), English/Latin Version’ 1965

    Art Term

    Conceptual art

    Conceptual art is art for which the idea (or concept) behind the work is more important than the finished art ...
  • Jeff Koons, ‘Three Ball Total Equilibrium Tank (Two Dr J Silver Series, Spalding NBA Tip-Off)’ 1985

    Art Term

    Vitrine

    A large, glass cabinet used for displaying art objects
  • William Blake, ‘The Good and Evil Angels’ 1795–?c.1805

    Art Term

    Iconography

    The iconography of an artwork is the imagery within it
  • Mona Hatoum, ‘Performance Still’ 1985, 1995

    Art Term

    Performance art

    Artworks that are created through actions performed by the artist or other participants, which may be live or recorded, spontaneous ...
  • Anya Gallaccio, ‘preserve ‘beauty’’ 1991–2003

    Art Term

    Ephemeral art

    Ephemeral art is art that only lasts for a short amount of time
  • Joseph Beuys, ‘7000 Oak Trees’ 1982

    Art Term

    Social sculpture

    Social sculpture is a theory developed by the artist Joseph Beuys in the 1970s based on the concept that everything ...
  • Joseph Beuys, ‘working title: BEUYS (FLUXUS) & CHRISTIANSEN (FLUXUS)’ 1969

    Art Term

    Fluxus

    Fluxus is an international avant-garde collective or network of artists and composers founded in the1960s and still continuing today
  • Joseph Beuys, ‘The End of the Twentieth Century’ 1983–5

    Art Term

    Environmental art

    Environmental art is art that addresses social and political issues relating to the natural and urban environment

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