Charles Atlas

A Pioneer of Time-Based Media

The monographic publication of the American artist Charles Atlas (b. St. Louis, Missouri, 1949) stems from his exhibition in 2018 at the Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst which was his first institutional solo exhibition in Switzerland.

For almost fifty years Atlas has been a leading figure in the domain of film and video art, creating complex video installations and seminal films documenting dance and performance art. Atlas rose to renown with collaborative projects involving choreographers like Merce Cunningham (1919–2009) and Michael Clark (b. 1962) as well as the fashion designer and performance artist Leigh Bowery (1961–1994). His network of creative collaborators and associates largely coincides with his circle of friends: many of his works from the 1980s and 1990s are portraits of fellow protagonists of the New York underground scene and the contemporary milieu, employing a sub- and pop-cultural idiom to scrutinize aspects of biopower and the politics of bodies and identity.

The publication features specially commissioned essays by Elisabeth Bronfen, Raphael Gygax, Jennifer Harris and Martin Jaeggi, reflecting on Atlas’ artistic strategies and the themes which determined his oeuvre throughout the years. In a special section dedicated to Charles Atlas, collaborators and friends share their memories, anecdotes, and stories. Contributions by Marina Abramovic, Anohni, Patrick Bensard, Laurie Berg, Howie Chen & Mika Tajima, Johanna Constantine, Douglas Crimp, Douglas Dunn, Johanna Fateman, Christian Fennesz, Lia Gangitano, Mimi Gross, Judy Hussie-Taylor, Anne Iobst, Barbara London, Silke Otto-Knapp, Heather Pesanti, Paul Pescador, Yvonne Rainer, Lori E. Seid, Lucy Sexton, Elisabeth Sussman, Joshua Thorson, Anne Waldman, Susan Weil, Joe Westmoreland, Rachel Williams, Lauren Wittels, Linda Yablonsky, Lori Zippay and Italo Zucchelli.

Published with Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Zurich.

Charles Atlas lives and works in New York City. Over the decades, his work has been presented in numerous exhibitions in the U.S. and abroad, including, most recently, at the Museum of Modern Art (2017); the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis (2017); the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (2016); and the Tate Modern, London (2013). His contribution to the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017 was honored with a Special Mention Award.