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Al Taylor was born 1948, in Springfield, Missouri. He embarked on his artistic journey by studying at the Kansas City Art Institute from 1965 to 1969, earning a BFA degree. Taylor’s early career involved work as an assistant to renowned American artist Frank Stella, an experience that notably influenced his artistic development.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Taylor’s artistic practice evolved, and he began to gain recognition for his unique approach to sculpture, drawing, and installation. His work was characterized by an inventive use of everyday objects, exploring the relationships between shapes, forms, and spatial dimensions.
Taylor’s exploration of mundane materials, such as wire, cardboard, and found objects, allowed him to create intricate compositions that played with light, shadow, and perspective. His keen observations of the ordinary world translated into art that often engaged viewers in playful and contemplative ways.
Key moments in Taylor’s career include his participation in various exhibitions across the United States and internationally, where his innovative approach to abstraction and his ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary garnered critical acclaim.
1948Born in Springfield, Missouri / USA
1999Died in New York City
Solo exhibitions (Selection)
2017Al Taylor: Early Paintings, David Zwirner, New York Al Taylor, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia (upcoming November 2017)
2015Al Taylor: Pet Stains, Puddles, and Full Gospel Neckless, David Zwirner, New York
Al Taylor: Pass the Peas and Shrunken Heads, Galería Cayón, MadridAl Taylor: Greek Studys & Test Tubes, Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2014
Al Taylor, David Zwirner, London
Al Taylor: Arbeiten auf Papier 1983–1997, Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
Six Panels: Al Taylor, The Glass House Painting Gallery, New Canaan, Connecticut
2013
Drawing Instruments: Al Taylor’s Bat Parts and Endcuts, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia
2012
Al Taylor: Pass the Peas and Can Studys, David Zwirner, New York
2011
Al Taylor: Wire Instruments and Pet Stains, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, Kalifornien
2010
Al Taylor: Latin Studies – Wall Constructions and Works on Paper, Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Portland, Oregon, USA
Al Taylor: Arbeiten auf Papier / Works on Paper 1983–1998, Schönewald Fine Arts, Düsseldorf
Al Taylor: Rim Jobs and Sideffects, David Zwirner, New York
Al Taylor: Das druckgraphische Werk, Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München, Pinakothek der Moderne, München; unter dem Titel På Papier: Al Taylor im Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Dänemark (2011)
2009
Al Taylor – München: Can Studies, Kunstverein Bremerhaven, Bremerhaven
2008
Al Taylor: Early Work, Zwirner & Wirth, New York
Al Taylor, Niels Borch Jensen Galerie, Berlin
2007
Al Taylor: Graphik, Galerie Franke, Stuttgart
2006
Al Taylor: Drawings / Zeichnungen, Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München, Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich
Al Taylor: Puddles, Haunch of Vension. Zurich
2004Al Taylor: Arbeiten auf Papier, Galerie Franke, Stuttgart
Al Taylor: Bilder und Skulpturen / Paintings and Sculptures, Kunstparterre, Munich
Al Taylor: Zeichnungen und Aquarelle 1997–1999, Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
2003Al Taylor: Wire Instruments 1989–90, Lawrence Markey, New York
2002Al Taylor, Gagosian Gallery / Chelsea, New York
2001Al Taylor: Ho’omanamana: Zeichnungen 1998 und 1999, Galerie Zell am See, Schloss Rosenberg, Zell am See
2000Al Taylor: Arbeiten auf Papier, Galerie Zell am See, Schloss Rosenberg, Zell am See
1999Al Taylor: Lures and Cures«, Kunstmuseum Luzern, Zwischen Rau, 96-99, Lucerne
Al Taylor: Memorial Exhibition – Arbeiten auf Papier 1987–1997, Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
1998Al Taylor: Arbeiten auf Papier 1987-1997, Galerie Zell am See, Schloss Rosenberg, Zell am See
1997Al Taylor: Full Gospel Neckless, Galleri Tommy Lund, Odense
Al Taylor: Endcuts – Skulpturen und Zeichnungen, Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
1996Al Taylor: Sideffects / Näbewürkig, Galerie Erika & Otto Friedrich, Bern
Al Taylor: Skulpturen und Arbeiten auf Papier, Galerie Brigitte Ihsen, Cologne
1995Al Taylor: Rim Jobs, Galleri Tommy Lund, Odense
Al Taylor: Lily’s Trap, Galerie Zell am See, Schloss Rosenberg, Zell am See
Al Taylor: Temporary Observation, Nolan / Eckman Gallery, New York
Galleri Tommy Lund: Al Taylor, Kunsthallen Brandts Klaedefabrik, Odense
1994Al Taylor: Skulpturen und Zeichnungen, Galerie Fred Jahn, Stuttgart
Al Taylor: Installation, Galerie Fred Jahn / Baaderstrasse, Munich
Al Taylor: Zeichnungen 1984–1994, Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
1993Al Taylor: Drawings of Common Objects, Nolan / Eckmann Gallery, New York
1992Al Taylor, Kunsthalle Bern
Al Taylor: Pass the Peas, Galerie Jahn und Fusban, Munich
Al Taylor: Puddles, David Nolan Gallery, New York
1991Al Taylor: Large Drawings, Galerie Alfred Kren, Cologne
1990Al Taylor, Lorence-Monk Gallery, New York
Al Taylor: Eine Radierungsmappe „Ten Common Hawaiian Household Objects“ und Bilder, Galerie 86 – Europäische Akademie für Bildende Kunst, Trier
1989Al Taylor: Pet Stains – Neue Arbeiten / New Work, Galerie Alfred Kren, Cologne
Al Taylor: Recents Work, Trans Avant Garde Gallery, Austin, Texas
1988Al Taylor, Lorence-Monk Gallery, New York
1987Al Taylor: Neue Arbeiten, Galerie Alfred Kren, Cologne
1986Al Taylor: Recent Work, Alfred Kren Gallery, New York
Group exhibitions (Selection)
2016Architecture of Life, University of California, Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive Berkeley, California
Drawing Line into Form: Works on Paper by Sculptors from the Collection of BNY Mellon, Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, Florida International University, Miami
65 Works Selected by James Welling: Exhibition and Sale to Benefit the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, David Zwirner, New York
2015
Embracing Modernism: Ten Years of Drawings Acquisitions, The Morgan Library &
Museum, New York
Sobre El Paper, Galería Cayon, Madrid
2014
Paintings on Paper, David Zwirner, New York
2013
Less Like an Object More Like the Weather, CCS Bard Galleries and Hessel Museum of Art, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York
Die Sammlung Hubert Looser, Kunsthaus Zürich
Suspense, Lullin + Ferrari, Zürich
2012
Large Drawings, David Nolan Gallery, New York
B. Wurtz & Co., Richard Telles Fine Art, Los Angeles, Kalifornien
Between The Knowing, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, Kalifornien
Pink Caviar, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Dänemark
Everyday Abstract – Abstract Everyday, James Cohan Gallery, New York
Transitions: Drawings from the Collection of MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art), Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, Großbritannien
2011
Proofs and Refutations, David Zwirner, New York
Neue Realitäten: FotoGrafik von Warhol bis Havekost, Kupferstichkabinett, Berlin
Held Up By Columns, Leslie Fitz Gallery, New York
The Shape of the Problem II: 30th Anniversary Exhibition, Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Portland, Oregon, USA
2010
American Drawings and Selected Prints (Richard Artschwager, Mel Bochner, William N. Copley, Carroll Dunham, Barry Le Va, Tom Levine, Jim Nutt, John Newman, Fred Sandback, Al Taylor, Robert Wilson, Terry Winters, Joe Zucker), Ausstellung VI, Karl & Faber, München, in Zusammenarbeit mit Galerie Fred Jahn, München
Devotion: Joe Fyfe, Mary Heilmann, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Chris Martin, Alix Le Méléder, Joel Shapiro, Pat Steir, Al Taylor, Zürcher Studio, New York
Make Yourself At Home, 7Eleven Gallery, New York
Held Up By Columns, Renwick Gallery, New York
Space Invasion, Niels Borch Jensen Galerie & Verlag, Berlin
2009
Nyerhvervelser / New Acquisitions 2007–2008, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Dänemark
Die Gegenwart der Linie – Eine Bestandsauswahl neuerer Erwerbungen des 20. und 21. Jahrhunderts, Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München, Pinakothek der Moderne, München
Drawings, Anyone? Recent Acquisitions from the Eleanor and Henry Hitchcock Foundation, Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colorado
Suspect Traces: A Summer Group Show, Texas Gallery, Houston, Texas
2008
Sparks! The William T. Kemper Collecting Initiative, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri
The Gallery, David Zwirner, New York
View (Fourteen): Hooking Up – Alexander Bircken, Barry Le Va, Adam McEwen, Robert Rauschenberg, Michael Edward Smith, Keith Sonnier, Al Taylor, Jason Tomme, Cy Twombly (kuratiert von Klaus Kertess), Mary Boone Gallery, New York
2007
Stuff: International Contemporary Art from the Collection of Burt Aaron, Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit, Michigan
A Point in Space is a Place for an Argument, David Zwirner, New York
2006Painted Objects, Center for Contemporray Non-Objective Art, Brussels
2005Brice Marden / Al Taylor / Terry Winters: Works on Paper, Nolan / Eckmann Gallery, New York
Skulls: Bilder im Angesicht des Todes / Images in the Face of Death«, Schönewald Fine Arts, Xanten
Sets, Series, and Suites: Contemporary Prints, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
2004Practice: Lawrence Carroll, Steve DeGroot, Tony Feher, David Ireland, Al Taylor, Acharaya Vyakul, Carl Berg Gallery, Los Angeles
On Paper«, Nicole Klagsbrun, New York
2003Arbeiten auf Papier: Zeichnungen und Druckgrafik / Works on Paper: Drawings and Prints, Völcker & Freunde Galerie, Berlin
The Passionate Adventure of the Real: Collage, Assemblage, and the Object in Twentieth-Century Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas
Gemischte Gefühle / Mixed Emotions«, Galerie Franke, Stuttgart
2002Drawing into Painting: Nancy Diamond, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Al Taylor, Galerie Charles Schumann, Munich
2001Quality Street, Galleri Tommy Lund, Copenhagen
2000Der verlorene Blick: Der Kopf in der Skulptur – Zeichnung und Bild, Galerie Lelong, Zurich
Drawings & Photographs: An exhibition to Benefit the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts, Inc., Matthew Marks Gallery, New York
Druckgraphische Trouvaillen von Mel Bochner, Barry Le Va, Bruce Nauman, John Newman, Hermann Nitsch, Sigmar Polke, Gerhard Richter, Al Taylor, Terry Winters«, Galerie Franke, Stuttgart
Acchrochage / Summer Group Show: Works on Paper and African Tribal Objects, The Norwood Gallery, Austin, Texas
Photogravüre: William Anastasi, Lewis Baltz, Olafur Eliasson, Erik A. Frandsen, Clay Ketter, Tom Sandberg, Al Taylor, Rosemarie Trockel, Alan Uglow, Niels Borch Jensen Verlag und Druckkunst, Berlin
1999Anebolle – Amar, Galleri Tommy Lund, Copenhagen
1998Von Baselitz bis Winters: Vermächtnis Bernd Mittelsten Scheid, Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München, Munich
American Drawings: 1969–1996, Tony Wuetherich Galerie, Basel
1997Wood Work, Fisher Landau Center, Long Island City, New York
Patagonia: Drawings by Sculptors – Abraham David Christian, Al Taylor, Alessandro Twombly, Josef Zutelgte, The University Gallery, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts
Graphit auf Papier, Galerie Thomas von Lintel, Munich
Peter Bonde, Olafur Eliasson, Al Taylor, Alan Uglow, Troels Wörsel«, Galleri Tommy Lund, Odense
1996From Figure to Object: A Century of Sculptors’ Drawings, Frith Street Gallery and Karsten Schubert Gallery, London
Amerikanische Zeichnungen, Galerie Fred Jahn / Baaderstrasse, Munich
Foto, Galleri Tommy Lund, Odense
Disegni americani degli anni ottanta: 15 Artisti, La Galleria Milano, Milan
Think, Galerie Brigitte Ihsen, Cologne
Epitaphs, Edward Thorp Gallery, New York
1995Prints: To Benefit the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts, Brooke Alexander, New York
Scattershot: Photographs by Barbara Ess, Sigmar Polke, Alan Scarritt & Al Taylor, Nolan / Eckman Gallery New York
Printmaking in America: Collaborative Prints and Presses 1960–1990, The Jane Voor
Printmaking in America: Collaborative Prints and Presses 1960–1990, The Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey; The Mary and Leigh Block Gallery, Northweastern University, Evanston, Illinois; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas; The National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.
Down the Drain: Kirsten Ortwed, Al Taylor, Alan Uglow, Troels Wörsel – Drei Portfolios und eine Skulptur, Galerie Aurel Scheibler, Cologne
Drawings from a Private Collection«, Nolan / Eckman Gallery, New York
1994Made ein Denmark: Kobbertryk fra Niels Borch Jensen Vaerksted, Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen
Works on Paper: Jose Andoe, Gary Dodson, Robert Mangold, Al Taylor, Kirsten Ortwed – Al Taylor – Alan Uglow – Troels Wörsel, Galleri Tommy Lund, Odense
Amerikanische Zeichnungen, Galerie Bidermann, Munich
Al Taylor – Alan Uglow, Galleri Tommy Lund, Odense
1993Drawings: 30th Anniversary Exhibition to Benefeit the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York
The Second Dimensions: Twentieth-Century Sculptors’ Drawings, The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York
1992Developing Language: Drawings by Harriet Korman, Suzanne McClellamd, Jack Pierson, Al Taylor, Jose Zucker, Hirschl & Adler Modern, New York (Guest Curator Klaus Kertess)
Peter Bonde – Al Taylor, Galleri Specta, aarhus
Singular and Plural: Recent Accessions – Drawings and Prints, 1945–1991, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Summer Drawings Show, Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
Drawn in the Ninties, a tarveling exhibition organized and circulated by Independent Curators Incorporated, New York, and co-sponsered by I.C.I. and the Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, New York. Tour itinerary: Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, New York; Fine Arts Gallery, Indiana University, Bloomington; Illingworth Kerr Art Gallery, Alberta College of Art, Calgary; and Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, Alabama (Guest Curator Josehua P. Smith)
NY: Sean Scully, Al Taylor, David Row, Martin Beck – Monotypes, Woodcuts, Drawings, Galerie 86 – Europäische Akademie für Bildende Kunst, Trier
1991Zeichnungen: Thom Barth, Stephen Ellis, Robert Feintuch, Al Taylor«, Galerie Alfred Kren, Cologne
Drawings, Lorence-Monk Gallery / 58 Broadway, New York
Black & White Prints, Lorence-Monk Gallery / 568 Broadway, New York
1990Diverse Representations 1990, The Morris Museum, Morristown, New Jersey (Guest Curator John Yau)
The Unique Print: 70s into 90s, The Lois and Michael Torf Gallery, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Einladung zur Ausstellung, Ausstellungsraum 1020, Vienna
Three Portfolios: Brice Marden, Al Taylor, Richard Tuttle, Galerie Alfred Kren, Cologne
1989Projects & Portfolios: The 25th National Print Exhibition, The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York
Drawings, Fawbush Gallery, New York
Summer Group Exhibition, Lorence-Monk Gallery, New York
Drawings, Lorence-Monk Gallery, New York
1988The 25th Anniversary Exhibition to Benefit the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts, Inc., Brooke Alexander, New York
Acchrochage: Stephen Ellis, Amy Purcell, Al Taylor, Galerie Alfred Kren, Cologne
Drawings, Reynolds-Minor Gallery, Richmond, Virginia
1987John Duff – Robert Lobe – Al Taylor, Lorence-Monk Gallery, New York
On Line, City Without Walls, Newark, New Jersey
Art Against AIDS (a benefit exhibition for the American Foundation for AIDS Research, New York), Lorence-Monk Gallery, New York
Sons and Daughters of Wichita, Wichita Art Association, Wichita, Kansas
Schwarz, Galerie Alfred Kren, Cologne
1986Artists for Artists, Charles Cowles Gallery / Annex, New York
Black, Alfred Kren Gallery, New York
1985Drawings by Roni Horn, Michael Peglau, Al Taylor, Alfred Kren Gallery, New York