Art as Life

Allan Kaprow (1927-2006) described himself as an un-artist, one who refused to participate in the traditional forms of the art world. Instead, he championed a practice that blurred the boundaries between art and life, moving art outside the gallery and museum and insisting on active participation rather than passive spectatorship. This richly illustrated volume documents Kaprows life and work through an extensive chronology that visually portrays his evolution from painter to environmental artist to inventor of the Happening and the Activity. Six essays contextualize this history and offer close readings of individual pieces, focusing on topics including Kaprows early work, his writings, and the difficulty of exhibiting his oeuvre while remaining true to his artistic ethos.