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John ChamberlainAmerican sculptor, painter, graphic artist and director.
Date of Birth: 16.04.1927
Country:  USA |
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Biography of John Chamberlain
John Chamberlain was an American sculptor, painter, printmaker, and filmmaker. He was born on April 16, 1927 in Rochester, Indiana and grew up in Chicago. After serving in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946, he studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago from 1950 to 1952 and at Black Mountain College from 1955 to 1956. During his time at Black Mountain College, he was influenced by the modernist aesthetics of poets Charles Olson (1910-1970) and Robert Creeley (1926-).
Early Career
In his early sculptures made of welded iron, Chamberlain's work showed a strong influence of abstract expressionism and the sculptures of David Smith. In 1957, Chamberlain moved to New York where he created his first works using parts of wrecked cars, such as "Shortstop" (1957). These works instantly made him recognizable and gained him recognition. His work was included in the exhibition "Art of Assemblage" at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, in 1961. In 1962, Chamberlain began exhibiting at Leo Castelli Gallery. Throughout the mid-1960s, he continued working in a similar vein, expanding his formal language. These works became associated with junk art.
Exploration of Film and Video
In 1967, Chamberlain became interested in film and video and in 1968, he embarked on his most ambitious cinematic project, "Wide Point". Around the same time, he returned to distorted metal after a brief fascination with stencil printing and action painting, for which he used a car spray gun. From this point on, his materials included not only familiar chassis, but also rubber, plastic, and plexiglass. During the fuel crisis, he often incorporated gas cans into his works, such as "Socket and Kiss" (1979).
Later Career
In addition to film and painting, Chamberlain also created and exhibited drawings and prints, such as "Time Goes By, Purple Disappears" (1987). His first retrospective exhibition took place in 1971 at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, and a second retrospective was held in 1986 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. He lived and worked in Shelter Island, New York.
