Oral history interview with Lawrence Weiner, 2015

Biographical Note

Lawrence Weiner was born in the Bronx, New York. He lived and worked in Amsterdam and New York City. One of the leading figures of the conceptual art scene in the late 1960s, Weiner was among the first to propose a new relationship to art and to redefine the status of the artist. He used language as the primary medium for his works since the late 1960s. Weiner was the recipient of numerous awards, most recently the Roswitha Haftmann Foundation Prize (2015), and the Wolf Prize and the Aspen Award for Art in 2017. Weiner died in New York City in 2021

Scope and Contents

Weiner reflects on Rauschenberg as a pivotal force in American culture. Weiner describes his experience of New York City's downtown social scene in the 1960s, the ways in which artists related to one another, and the ambiance that was created out of necessity. He reflects on how Rauschenberg functioned as a network-builder in that scene. Weiner grew up in New York City, and describes its violence as he was growing up. He reflects on Rauschenberg as an American artist. Weiner describes his friendship with Marzette Watts, and reflects on how class and exclusion impacts the art world. Weiner elaborates on his argument against what he calls ethnic culture

Subjects

• Abstract expressionism--20th century--United States.
• Artists--Interviews.
• Conceptual art--20th century--United States.
• Edwards, Brent Hayes interviewer.
• Interviews.
• Language and languages in art.
• Lower East Side (New York, N.Y.)
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Rauschenberg, Robert, 1925-2008.
• Social classes--United States.
• Weiner, Lawrence--Interviews.

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York and Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, 2016