“The idea becomes the machine that makes the art,” wrote Sol LeWitt in 1967. This metaphor describes a concept shared among many international artists, filmmakers, performers, and composers: that the idea was the work of art. Sometimes, the artists in this gallery realized their theories by creating objects. At other times, they documented ephemeral actions in photographs or on video. In still other instances, they made language their subject, producing multiples, publications, posters, and postcards intended to circulate to a mass audience. By emphasizing the context surrounding the creation of the work, these artists addressed various social issues, such as inequality, and race and gender politics.
Collection 1940s–1970s
415
Idea Art
415
Idea Art
Through fall 2021
MoMA
- MoMA, Floor 4, 415 The David Geffen Galleries
20 works online
-
André Cadere Round Bar of Wood 1972 -
Jan Dibbets Perspective Correction, My Studio I, 2: Square with 2 Diagonals on Wall 1969 -
Mary Beth Edelson Death of Patriarchy / A.I.R. Anatomy Lesson 1976 -
Valie Export Self-Portrait with Head 1967 -
Valie Export with Peter Hassmann (photographer) Action Pants: Genital Panic 1969 -
On Kawara MAY 20, 1967 1967
-
Mary Kelly Post-Partum Document: Documentation IV, Transitional Objects, Diary and Diagram (prototype) 1976/2015 -
Edward Krasiński Intervention with a Phone 1972 -
Edward Krasiński Map of Warsaw 1972 -
Edward Krasiński Tenture II 1972 -
Edward Krasiński Beton gris 1972 -
Barry Le Va Strips, Sheets, Particles 1967-68 -
Barry Le Va Strips to Felt Particles 1967-68 -
Barry Le Va Criss-Cross Corner Shot - Plan View 1970 -
Blinky Palermo Blue Triangle (Blaues Dreieck) 1969 -
Letícia Parente In 1975 -
Ewa Partum Autobiography (Autobiografia) 1971–74 -
Martha Rosler Semiotics of the Kitchen 1975 -
Niele Toroni Imprints of a No. 50 Paintbrush Repeated at Regular Intervals of 30 cm 1969 -
Hannah Wilke Hannah Wilke Through the Large Glass 1976
Artists
-
Eleanor Antin
American, born 193513 exhibitions, 61 works online -
Bernd Becher
German, 1931–200720 exhibitions, 16 works online -
Hilla Becher
German, 1934–201519 exhibitions, 16 works online -
André Cadere
Romanian, born Poland. 1934–19785 exhibitions, 1 work online -
Hanne Darboven
German, 1941–200928 exhibitions, 21 works online - There are 23 artists in this collection gallery online.
Installation images
In 2018–19, MoMA collaborated with Google Arts & Culture Lab on a project using machine learning to identify artworks in installation photos. That project has concluded, and works are now being identified by MoMA staff.
If you notice an error, please contact us at [email protected].
If you would like to reproduce an image of a work of art in MoMA’s collection, or an image of a MoMA publication or archival material (including installation views, checklists, and press releases), please contact Art Resource (publication in North America) or Scala Archives (publication in all other geographic locations).
All requests to license audio or video footage produced by MoMA should be addressed to Scala Archives at [email protected]. Motion picture film stills or motion picture footage from films in MoMA’s Film Collection cannot be licensed by MoMA/Scala. For licensing motion picture film footage it is advised to apply directly to the copyright holders. For access to motion picture film stills please contact the Film Study Center. More information is also available about the film collection and the Circulating Film and Video Library.
If you would like to reproduce text from a MoMA publication, please email [email protected]. If you would like to publish text from MoMA’s archival materials, please fill out this permission form and send to [email protected].
This record is a work in progress. If you have additional information or spotted an error, please send feedback to [email protected].