Barbara Kruger

Biography
Barbara Kruger was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1945. After attending Syracuse University, the School of Visual Arts, and studying art and design with Diane Arbus at Parson's School of Design in New York, Kruger obtained a design job at Condé Nast Publications. Working for Mademoiselle Magazine, she was quickly promoted to head designer. Later, she worked as a graphic designer, art director, and picture editor in the art departments at House and Garden, Aperture, and other publications. This background in design is evident in the work for which she is now internationally renowned. She layers found photographs from existing sources with pithy and aggressive text that involves the viewer in the struggle for power and control that her captions speak to. In their trademark black letters against a slash of red background, some of her instantly recognizable slogans read "I shop therefore I am," and "Your body is a battleground." Much of her text questions the viewer about feminism, classicism, consumerism, and individual autonomy and desire, although her black-and-white images are culled from the mainstream magazines that sell the very ideas she is disputing. As well as appearing in museums and galleries worldwide, Kruger's work has appeared on billboards, buscards, posters, a public park, a train station platform in Strasbourg, France, and in other public commissions. She has taught at the California Institute of Art, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the University of California, Berkeley. She lives in New York and Los Angeles.
http://www.barbarakruger.com/biography.shtml

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Barbara
• Kruger
• art
• arte
• kunts
• collage
• music
• radiohead
• idioteque

[mkim28]

I don't know, I find that black and white photography holds a lot more power than those of colour. Personal preference.

However, just because you've studied art for several years does not make you an art critic, or an artist. It most certainly does not give you the right to crudely dismiss the work of others.

[theArtNY]

By combining two simple elements: photography and text. Kruger is able to create such poignant commentaries on society. It is art like this that creates the strongest reaction in people, in my humble opinion, because it really makes you think. Please feel free to follow me on twitter: ArtNY. I comment on the art scene in NYC.

[TheHipsterguy]

im not a fan of her work but im not going to say "see kids you dont need talent to be an artist" or "see fully original, apart from the images; they're all copied. and the text is mainly cliche's..."

no. not going to say that at all.

but seriously dont think of me as a hater, im just not a fan of specifically conceptual work

[cutiepiezcontarria13]

@luzatar

I have voted this comment up for one reason. Simply to say, shove it UP your butt! Art is something that is different to each person, and you should appreciate that. Especially since the tone of your message implies that you are somewhat interested in artwork. Oh, and by the way, its spelled s-u-p-p-o-s-e-d. Fucking go back to school and get an education.

[celery812many]

Babs Kruger is ONE of my artistic heroes...Thanks for the post!!!

[luzatar]

well motherfucker, the song is comercial, but, what kind of music do you preffer for a documental video. Please, is just idioteque, by radiohead. maybe you are a poser and you just watch art because you are no one and you like what you are supousted to like.

[Jess4Blair]

she amazes me  :)

[MsYperite]

I really like her artworks.

[locaperdida1]

It's not about masculinity or men...

[nzsweetie18]

awsome video! love her

[antigen4]

the music is commercial shite.