Famous Performance Artists – What Is Performance Art?
In this article, we will discuss the careers and impact of eight of the most famous performance artists. We discuss the questions, “what is performance art?” and “what is a performance artist?”, in order to understand more about the contemporary performance art movement. This fascinating form of modern art has rendered some of the weirdest and most wonderful art pieces of the 21st century, so let us look at who is behind them!
Table of Contents
- 1 Famous Performance Artists
- 2 Frequently Asked Questions
Famous Performance Artists
Performance art is defined as a type of art that concerns the use of the body of the performer or other contributors in happening or documented actions. This form of art is often characterized by the lack of material results, other than the recordings of the performance that happened.
Grand opening of the first Dada exhibition, Berlin (1920); See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The emergence of this non-conventional art form provided artists with the opportunity to experiment with the concepts of liveliness and impermanence in their creations. Here, we will list ten famous performance artists, give a short artist biography for each, discuss what makes them so prolific in the contemporary performance art scene, as well as provide a summary of their most recognized performances.
Joseph Beuys (1921 – 1986)
Date of Birth | 1921 |
Date of Death | 1986 |
Nationality | German |
Famous Artworks | The Chief – Fluxus Chant (performance, installation, 1963–1964), Infiltration Homogen for Piano (1966), and I Like America and America Likes Me (1974), |
Performance Themes | Social and political issues, mythology, and ritual |
Joseph Beuys was a German artist, sculptor, and performance artist who was active from the 1950s until his death in 1986. He is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and is best known for his ideas about art as a social and political force. Beuys’s work often incorporated elements of mythology, ritual, and symbolism, and he is known for his use of unconventional materials such as fat, felt, and honey. He was a key figure in the development of conceptual and performance art, and his work has been widely exhibited and collected by museums and galleries around the world.
He was also a teacher and a political activist, and he’s considered one of the most important figures in the German contemporary art scene.
Why Is Joseph Beuys So Famous?
Joseph Beuys is considered a famous artist for several reasons. Among these reasons is that his ideas about art as a social and political force, as well as his use of strange materials such as lard, felt, and honey, were groundbreaking and influential in the art world. He was a key figure in the development of conceptual and performance art and his work helped shape the direction of contemporary art. He was also a teacher and a political activist, and his ideas and methods continue to inspire new generations of artists.
Joseph Beuys at Cafe Florian, Venice (1983); Burkhard von Harder, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Performance Example: I Like America and America Likes Me (1974)
I Like America and America Likes Me (1974) was a performance piece in which Beuys lived in a gallery space with a live coyote for three days. The performance was meant to reflect on the relationship between the artist and the audience, as well as the relationship between Europe and America.
The coyote, a symbol of the American wilderness, was intended to represent the unknown, while Beuys, who was wrapped in felt and covered in honey, was meant to represent the familiar.
The performance was also a comment on the artist’s own relationship with America, as well as the relationship between art and society. The performance was documented through photographs and videos, but the artwork exists mainly as a memory in the minds of the people who were present. This performance is considered one of Beuys’ most iconic works, and it helped establish him as a leading figure in the field of conceptual and performance art.
Yoko Ono (1933 – Present)
Date of Birth | 1933 |
Date of Death | N/A |
Nationality | Japanese |
Famous Artworks | Danger Box (1966), Ceiling Painting (1966), Apple (1966), and Cut Piece (1964) |
Performance Themes | Pacifism, peace, and interactions between the audience and performer |
Yoko Ono is a Japanese-born artist, musician, and peace activist who has been active in the art world since the 1950s. She is known for her multimedia work, including conceptual art, performance art, installation art, and music. She is also considered one of the most prolific contributors to the Fluxus movement. Ono’s work often incorporates elements of chance and requests the viewer to partake in the making of the artwork. Her most famous work is Instruction Paintings (1961-present) which are written instructions for actions or thoughts that can be performed as a form of conceptual art. Ono is also known for her marriage to John Lennon, and the couple’s collaborations in music and art.
She continues to be active in the art world and her works are widely exhibited and acquired by showrooms and galleries around the world.
Why Is Yoko Ono So Famous?
Yoko Ono is considered a famous artist for several reasons. The main reason for her fame in the performance art world is that her work often incorporates elements of chance and invites the viewer to partake in the creation of the artwork. This improvised, open-ended collaboration was groundbreaking in the art world when she first started doing it. This approach, which is now known as instructional art, had a great impact on the development of conceptual performance art.
Yoko Ono (1969); Eric Koch / Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Performance Example: Instruction Paintings (1961 – Present)
Yoko Ono’s Instruction Paintings (1961 – Present) is a series of written instructions that can be performed as a form of conceptual art. These instructions are simple, open-ended and often focus on everyday actions, such as “Imagine the sky is the sea” or “Write your name in the air with a brush made of smoke.”
The idea behind these instructions is to encourage the viewer to engage with the artwork in a new way and to open up the possibilities of what art can be.
The instruction paintings are not only limited to visual art, but also include musical compositions, poetry, and even recipes. The instructions can be performed individually or collectively, and the documentation of the performed instructions is considered as the artwork. These instruction paintings are considered a key work in Ono’s oeuvre, and have been widely exhibited and collected by museums and galleries around the world.
Vito Acconci (1940 – 2017)
Date of Birth | 1940 |
Date of Death | 2017 |
Nationality | American |
Famous Artworks | Seedbed (January 15–29, 1972), Airtime (1973), Following Piece, 1969, and Undertone (1972) |
Performance Themes | Identity, the body, sexuality, identity, and relationship with the viewer |
Vito Acconci was an American artist and designer who was active from the 1960s until his death in 2017. He is known for his conceptual and performance art that often explored themes of identity, the body, and the relationship between the artist and the audience. He began his career as a poet and then turned to performance art in the late 1960s, where he often used his own body as the subject and medium of his work. He is also known for his installations, sculptures, and architectural designs. His work was often controversial and thought-provoking, and it helped establish him as a leading figure in the development of conceptual and performance art.
Acconci’s work has been widely exhibited and collected by museums and galleries around the world.
Why Is Vito Acconci So Famous?
Vito Acconci’s conceptual and performance art often explored themes of the self, the body, and the relationship between the performer and the one who witnesses. He did this in a way that was groundbreaking and thought-provoking, combining his background as a poet and with performance art. He often used his own body as the subject and medium of his work – blurring the lines between art and reality. His work was often contentious and pushed the peripheries of what was considered art. Second, he was also known for his installations, sculptures, and architectural designs, which demonstrated his versatility as an artist and helped establish him as an important figure in the development of conceptual performance art.
Multibed (1992) by Vito Acconci; Sailko, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Performance Example: Seedbed (1972)
Seedbed (1972) is a performance piece created by Vito Acconci, where he spent three weeks lying under a ramp in the Sonnabend Gallery in New York City, masturbating while whispering sexual fantasies into a microphone. The microphone was hidden under the ramp and broadcast the sounds throughout the gallery.
The performance was meant to be a commentary on the relationship between the artist and the audience and the power dynamics of art.
The work was considered controversial and thought-provoking, and it helped establish Acconci as a leading figure in the field of conceptual performance art. This performance was not documented and only existed during the three weeks it was performed, and the artwork exists mainly as a memory in the minds of the people who were present, this makes it one of the most famous and iconic works of Acconci.
Marina Abramovic (1946 – Present)
Date of Birth | 1946 |
Date of Death | N/A |
Nationality | Serbian |
Famous Artworks | Rhythm 0 (1974), Rhythm 5 (1974), Rhythm 10 (1973), and The Artist is Present (2010) |
Performance Themes | Testing the physical, mental, and emotional limits of the body |
Marina Abramovic is a Serbian-born performance artist who has been engaged in performative action since the 1970s. She is known for her long durational performances that explore the relationship between the one who is performing, the viewers, and the limitations of the body. Her work often pushes the boundaries of what is considered acceptable and has been described as challenging, confrontational, and even painful. Her most famous performance is The Artist is Present (2010) at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City – see more about this performance below.
Abramovic’s work has been featured in major museums and galleries around the world, and she has been honored with numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to the field of performance art.
Why Is Marina Abramovic So Influential?
Marina Abramovic is considered one of the most influential figures in the world of performance art. She is a pioneer of the use of the body as a medium for artistic expression and her work often involves pushing the limits of what the body can endure. She uses her own body as a canvas to explore themes such as pain, endurance, and the relationship between the performer and the audience.
Marina Abramović (2008); Manfred Werner / Tsui, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Abramovic’s work often blurs the lines between art and everyday life, challenging traditional notions of what art should be. She has a strong conceptual approach and her performances are often carefully planned and executed, and they often have a strong conceptual foundation that explores deeper themes and ideas. Abramovic’s work has a strong impact on the public, and her performances are often powerful and thought-provoking experiences that leave a lasting impression on viewers. Additionally, she is a strong advocate for Performance art and its recognition as a valid art form, through her works, lectures, and her own Marina Abramovic Institute, she has helped bring performance art to a wider audience and helped establish it as a legitimate form of contemporary art.
Performance Example: The Artist is Present (2010)
Marina Abramovic’s The Artist is Present was a performance piece that took place at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. The performance consisted of Abramovic sitting motionless in the museum’s atrium for a period of over 700 hours, while visitors sat across from her in silence.
Throughout the duration of the performance, Abramovic maintained eye contact with each individual visitor who chose to sit across from her.
The piece was a comment on the nature of art and performance, as well as the connection between the performer and the witnesses. The performance was widely considered a seminal moment in the history of performance art, and it helped to establish Abramovic as one of the leading figures in the field.
Chris Burden (1946 – 2015)
Date of Birth | 1946 |
Date of Death | 2015 |
Nationality | American |
Famous Artworks | Shoot (1971), Deadman (1972), Match Piece (1972), B.C. Mexico (1973), Honest Labor (1979), and Velvet Water (1974), |
Performance Themes | Testing the physical, mental, and emotional limits of the body |
Chris Burden was an American performance artist who was active from the 1970s until his death in 2015. He is best known for his controversial and often dangerous performance pieces that explored the limits of the body, the relationship between art and society, and the role of the artist. Burden’s work often incorporated elements of danger and risk, and he is best known for his 1971 performance piece Shoot in which he had a friend shoot him in the arm with a rifle as a performance piece. He also used his body to create sculptures, installations, and kinetic works. He was a key figure in the development of conceptual and performance art, and his work has been widely exhibited and collected by museums and galleries worldwide.
His work continues to be influential and relevant in the contemporary art world.
Why Is Chris Burden So Famous?
Chris Burden is considered a famous artist for several reasons. First, his work was often controversial, in which he pushed his body to its limits. He also considers the relationship between art and civilization, and the artist’s role in the making of this in a way that was groundbreaking and thought-provoking. Second, he also used his body to create sculptures, installations, and kinetic works, which demonstrated his versatility as an artist and helped establish him as an important figure in the development of conceptual and performance art.
Performance Example: Shoot (1971)
Shoot (1971) is a performance piece, in which he had a friend shoot him in the arm with a rifle. This performance, which took place in a gallery in front of an audience, was a powerful comment on the relationship between art, violence, and the body, and it was widely considered one of the most controversial and provocative pieces of art of its time.
The performance was a one-time event, and it was not documented, which means that the only memory of the event is through the accounts of the people that were there.
The work was considered a seminal moment in the history of performance art, and it helped establish Burden as a leading figure in the field of conceptual and performance art. The piece was a demonstration of the power of art to challenge societal norms and to make people question their assumptions about art and its relationship to the body and violence.
Ana Mendieta (1948 – 1985)
Date of Birth | 1948 |
Date of Death | 1985 |
Nationality | Cuban-American |
Famous Artworks | Rape Scene (1973), and Body Tracks (1982) |
Performance Themes | Body and earth relationship, identity, and femininity |
Ana Mendieta was a Cuban-born American artist who was active from the 1970s until her death in 1985. She is known for her performance art, sculpture, and video works that explored themes of identity, feminism, and the relationship between the body and the earth. Many of her works were ephemeral and involved her own body, often using the natural landscape as a backdrop. She was also known for using photography, film, and video to document her performances. Her work was heavily influenced by her exile from Cuba, as well as her experiences as a woman and a woman of color.
Her work continues to be widely exhibited and collected by museums and galleries around the world, and her legacy continues to influence the contemporary art world.
Why Is Ana Mendieta So Famous?
Ana Mendieta is considered a famous artist because her work explored themes of identity, feminism, and the relationship between the body and the earth, which were groundbreaking and thought-provoking. Her work was heavily influenced by her exile from Cuba, as well as her experiences as a woman and a woman of color, and it resonated with many people. She was also known for using photography, film, and video to document her performances which adds to the richness of the experience and the understanding of her work.
Performance Example: Body Tracks (1974)
Body Tracks (1974) is a performance piece created by Ana Mendieta, in which she used her own body to create ephemeral, site-specific sculptures in the natural landscape. The performance consisted of Mendieta lying on her back in various outdoor locations and making impressions of her body on the ground using natural materials such as sand, mud, or grass.
The images were then photographed and the photographs were presented as the artwork.
This performance is considered one of Mendieta’s most iconic works, and it helped establish her as a leading figure in the field of conceptual performance art. The work dealt with themes of identity, femininity, and the relationship between the body and nature. It also reflects on the idea of the ephemeral nature of life and art, as the impressions were temporary and only exist in the photographs.
Guillermo Gomez-Peña (1955 – Present)
Date of Birth | 1955 |
Date of Death | N/A |
Nationality | Mexican |
Famous Artworks | The Cruci-fiction Project (with Roberto Sifuentes, 1994), Couple in The Cage: Two Undiscovered Amerindians Visit the West (with Coco Fusco, 1992 – 1993), and Border Brujo (1988 – 1989) |
Performance Themes | The relationship between North and South (Mexico and the U.S.), the culture that develops on the border between two countries, politics, and the experience of the brown body |
Guillermo Gomez-Peña is a Mexican-born performance artist, writer, and cultural activist who has been active since the early 1980s. He is a member of the performance art collective La Pocha Nostra, which he co-founded in 1984. His work often addresses issues of race, gender, and cultural identity, and he is known for his use of his own body and cultural identity as a medium for artistic expression. He also creates installations, videos, and sculptures. He’s known for his ability to work in multiple languages and mediums and his work has been shown in galleries, museums, and festivals worldwide.
He’s also a teacher and a writer, and he’s written several books and essays about performance, art, and border culture.
Why Is Guillermo Gomez-Peña So Famous?
Guillermo Gomez-Peña is considered a famous artist for several reasons. First, his work addresses important and timely issues such as race, and gender. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the development of Chicano performance art and his work has had a significant impact on the field. Second, Gomez-Peña’s performances often involve elements of satire, irony, and political commentary, making them both thought-provoking and entertaining. Finally, his work has been widely exhibited and collected by museums and galleries worldwide, and he has also written several books and essays about performance, art, and border culture, which have helped solidify his reputation as a significant artist and thinker in the contemporary art world.
Guillermo Gomez-Peña with troupe members in costume (2021); Img44, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Performance Example: La Pocha Nostra (1984 – Present)
Guillermo Gomez-Peña’s La Pocha Nostra is a collective of performance artists, founded by Gomez-Peña himself in 1984, that uses performance art to address social and political issues related to race, gender, and cultural identity.
The performances can take many forms, such as traditional stage performances, street performances, and conceptual art and happenings, and can be performed alone or with a group.
The performances are often interactive and encourage the audience to participate in the performance, and they often challenge the traditional notions of art and can be ephemeral and hard to document. The collective has been active for several decades and its performances have been widely presented in galleries, museums, festivals, and alternative spaces worldwide.
Tino Sehgal (1976 – Present)
Date of Birth | 1976 |
Date of Death | N/A |
Nationality | German |
Famous Artworks | This is good (2001), This objective of that object (2004), This is So Contemporary (2005), and These associations (2012) |
Performance Themes | Challenging art institutions and viewers to reconsider their definitions of art |
Tino Sehgal is a German-born contemporary artist known for his conceptual, participatory performance art. He began creating work in the early 2000s and since then, his work has been exhibited and performed in museums, galleries, and other cultural institutions worldwide. Sehgal’s work is known for being ephemeral and hard to document, as it exists only in the form of live interactions between the artist, performers, and audience. He uses a “live-model” approach, which means that the artwork exists only while the performance is taking place and doesn’t leave behind any physical traces, like a sculpture or a painting. He also doesn’t allow photography, video recording, or any other form of documentation of his performances.
One of his most famous performances is This is Propaganda (2002), an interactive performance piece that takes place in a museum or gallery setting and involves museum visitors interacting with performers.
Why Is Tino Sehgal So Famous?
Tino Sehgal is considered a famous artist for several reasons. First, his work is unique and groundbreaking in the field of contemporary art, as he creates conceptual, participatory performance art that exists only in the form of live interactions between the artist, performers, and audience. This approach is considered innovative and pushes the borders of how art can be understood. Second, he also doesn’t allow photography, video recording, or any other form of documentation of his performances, which adds to the exclusivity of the experience and the idea that the artwork only exists in the present moment.
Third, his work has been widely exhibited and performed in museums, galleries, and other cultural institutions worldwide, and has received critical acclaim from art critics and audiences alike. Finally, he has had a significant impact on the contemporary art world, influencing a new generation of artists and changing the way people think about art and its relationship to society.
Performance Example: This Is Propaganda (2002)
This is Propaganda (2002) is an interactive performance and encourages the audience to partake in the performance. It is often described as a thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating experience. The work is a comment on the role of art, the power of language, and the relationship between art and society.
The performance doesn’t leave behind any physical traces and it doesn’t allow photography, video recording or any other form of documentation.
This means that the artwork exists only in the memories of those who witnessed it, and it adds to the exclusivity of the experience and the idea that the artwork only exists in the present moment. This performance is considered one of Sehgal’s seminal works and it helped establish him as a leading figure in the field of conceptual and participatory art.
Performance art is considered a profound form of art because it allows the artist to immerse themselves and their audience in the creative experience fully. Unlike traditional forms of art, such as painting or sculpture, performance art is a live, interactive medium that allows for greater emotional impact and connection between the artist and the audience. These artists listed in this article had a great impact on the way this art movement has developed. From their artworks, we can understand why contemporary performance art is what it is today.
Take a look at our performance artists webstory here!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Performance Artist?
Performance art is a form of live expression that encompasses a range of mediums including theater, dance, music, visual art, and more. The artist creates and presents these live performances, which can be in various settings, from the traditional stage to public spaces, and can be a solo or collaborative effort. The main emphasis of performance art is on the audience’s experience and the use of the body and its surroundings as a means of artistic expression.
What Is Performance Art?
Performance art is a type of art that is performed live, typically in front of an audience. It can incorporate elements of theater, dance, music, visual art, and other forms of creative expression. Performance art can take many forms, such as traditional stage performances, street performances, conceptual art, and happenings, and can be performed alone or with a group.
What Are Examples of Famous Contemporary Performance Art?
Three examples of famous contemporary performance art include Marina Abramovic’s The Artist is Present (2010) at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. In this contemporary performance art that has become widely known around the world, Abramovic sat motionless in the museum’s atrium for over 700 hours while visitors sat across from her in silence. Secondly, would be Yoko Ono’s Instruction Paintings (1961 – Present). This contemporary performance art piece is comprised of written instructions for actions or thoughts that can be performed as a form of conceptual art. Lastly, Guillermo Gomez-Peña’s La Pocha Nostra (1984 – Present) is a good example of contemporary performance art. It is a collective of performance artists who use their bodies and cultural identities to comment on social and political issues.
Nicolene Burger is a South African multi-media artist, working primarily in oil paint and performance art. She received her BA (Visual Arts) from Stellenbosch University in 2017. In 2018, Burger showed in Masan, South Korea as part of the Rhizome Artist Residency. She was selected to take part in the 2019 ICA Live Art Workshop, receiving training from art experts all around the world. In 2019 Burger opened her first solo exhibition of paintings titled, Painted Mantras, at GUS Gallery and facilitated a group collaboration project titled, Take Flight, selected to be part of Infecting the City Live Art Festival. At the moment, Nicolene is completing a practice-based master’s degree in Theatre and Performance at the University of Cape Town.
In 2020, Nicolene created a series of ZOOM performances with Lumkile Mzayiya called, Evoked?. These performances led her to create exclusive performances from her home in 2021 to accommodate the mid-pandemic audience. She also started focusing more on the sustainability of creative practices in the last 3 years and now offers creative coaching sessions to artists of all kinds. By sharing what she has learned from a 10-year practice, Burger hopes to relay more directly the sense of vulnerability with which she makes art and the core belief to her practice: Art is an immensely important and powerful bridge of communication that can offer understanding, healing and connection.
Nicolene writes our blog posts on art history with an emphasis on renowned artists and contemporary art. She also writes in the field of art industry. Her extensive artistic background and her studies in Fine and Studio Arts contribute to her expertise in the field.
Learn more about Nicolene Burger and the Art in Context Team.
Cite this Article
Nicolene, Burger, “Famous Performance Artists – What Is Performance Art?.” Art in Context. June 2, 2023. URL: https://artincontext.org/famous-performance-artists/
Burger, N. (2023, 2 June). Famous Performance Artists – What Is Performance Art?. Art in Context. https://artincontext.org/famous-performance-artists/
Burger, Nicolene. “Famous Performance Artists – What Is Performance Art?.” Art in Context, June 2, 2023. https://artincontext.org/famous-performance-artists/.