Catalogue, Robert Longo - Albertina , published in connection with Louisiana's exhibition about the artist. The book presents ninety color images and provides an in-depth insight into the artist's works.
Robert Longo was born in 1953 in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island. He set out to study art history, but was then trained at the State University College at Buffalo as a sculptor. Here he was also introduced to the art of film-making and founded a lifelong friendship with Cindy Sherman. Together they moved to New York at the end of the 1970s and became part of the so-called “Pictures Generation” – which also includes names such as Richard Prince and David Salle and rose to fame for their strongly critical approach to consumer society and the increasing influence of the mass media.
In 1981, Longo exhibited the series ‘Men in the Cities’ – drawings of well-dressed business people frozen in distorted and ambiguous poses – are they dancing or being shot at? These images were his breakthrough, and they still stand as some of the most iconic of the decade. Since then, in his career – which also includes directing music videos and the cyperpunk movie ‘Johnny Mnemonic’ – he has revolved around archetypes and motifs that range from weapons, bombs and bullet holes over natural phenomena (waves, flowers, animals) to refugees, religion and terror.
Pages: 100
Language: English
Published by Louisiana, 2025