Lucas Samaras, an artist known for using his own body and personal items in his art, passed away at 87. His work was diverse, often featuring his body and personal belongings in various forms.
He was a unique artist in a group known for pushing the boundaries of art. His art included pastel drawings, plaster works, and intricate jewel boxes decorated with wool, glass, pins, knives, and even taxidermy birds, which were unusual for the 1960s.
In 1964, he recreated his childhood bedroom as an art piece after having to leave it, showcasing loss through conceptual art.
Lucas Samaras Life
Lucas Samaras, born on September 14, 1936, in Kastoria, Greece, was a Greek-born American artist renowned for his innovative contributions to photography, sculpture, and painting.
Early Life and Education: Samaras pursued his education at Rutgers University, where he received a scholarship. It was during his time there that he crossed paths with influential figures such as Allan Kaprow and George Segal, setting the stage for his artistic journey.
Career: Samaras actively participated in Kaprow's "Happenings" and served as a model for Segal's plaster sculptures. He was acknowledged by Claes Oldenburg as part of the "New Jersey school," a group that included prominent artists like Kaprow and Segal.
Initially exploring painting, sculpture, and performance art, Samaras later transitioned to photography, creating room environments that reflected elements of his personal history.
One of his notable works, the "Auto-Interviews," comprised text pieces that delved into self-investigatory interviews. Samaras' photographic oeuvre predominantly focused on his own self-image, often distorted and mutilated. He experimented with multi-media collages and pioneered the technique of manipulating wet dyes in Polaroid film to produce what he termed "Photo-Transformations."
Samaras gained international recognition when he represented Greece at the 53rd International Art Exhibition, The Venice Biennale, with his multi-installation "PARAXENA" in 2009.
Throughout his career, Samaras was a subject of interest for artist Chuck Close, who portrayed him across various mediums, including painting, daguerreotype, and tapestry.
Legacy and Death: Samaras' artistic legacy includes notable sculptures like "Stiff Box 12," which has been displayed outside the University of Michigan Museum of Art since 1997. His diverse body of work led New York Times art critic Grace Glueck to remark that there seemed to be multiple artists under the name Lucas Samaras.