Skip to Main Content

Lucas Samaras Retrospective

American artist Lucas Samaras is representing his native Greece at this year’s Biennale. In this intimate interview with his longtime art dealer Arne Glimcher, Samaras discusses why he doesn’t want to go to Venice, getting famous artists to pose nude for him, and what he’s working on next.

Published Jun. 2 2009 7:25AM EDT

galleries/2009/06/02/lucas-samaras-retrospective/samaras-5_lbmxuw — © Lucas Samaras / Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York

galleries/2009/06/02/lucas-samaras-retrospective/samaras-5_dbb5zh — Pure pigment on paper 20-1/2" x 35-1/4" (52.1 cm x 89.5 cm)
© Lucas Samaras / Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York

galleries/2009/06/02/lucas-samaras-retrospective/samaras-4_guwger — Aluminum, wood and mirrors 10' 8-3/4" x 10' 1/2" x 12' 9" (327 cm x 306.1 cm x 388.6 cm) © Lucas Samaras, Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York
Courtesy Stephen Friedman Gallery, London

galleries/2009/06/02/lucas-samaras-retrospective/samaras-1_jrauns — 25 iMovies displayed on 24 23" HD monitors, a 30" HD monitor, and 26 MacMini computers installation dimensions variable The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of the Greenhill Family Foundation, 2007 © Lucas Samaras, Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York
Genevieve Hanson / Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York

galleries/2009/06/02/lucas-samaras-retrospective/samaras-2_jsv1sr — 25 iMovies displayed on 24 23" HD monitors, a 30" HD monitor, and 26 MacMini computers installation dimensions variable The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of the Greenhill Family Foundation, 2007 © Lucas Samaras, Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York
Genevieve Hanson / Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York

galleries/2009/06/02/lucas-samaras-retrospective/samaras-3_dfxxdz — Aluminum, wood and mirrors 10' 8-3/4" x 10' 1/2" x 12' 9" (327 cm x 306.1 cm x 388.6 cm) © Lucas Samaras, Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York
Courtesy Stephen Friedman Gallery, London

galleries/2009/06/02/lucas-samaras-retrospective/samaras-6_wvgtmv — Pure pigment on paper 19" x 33-3/4" (48.3 cm x 85.7 cm), image; 20" x 34-3/4" (50.8 cm x 88.3 cm) sheet
© Lucas Samaras / Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York

galleries/2009/06/02/lucas-samaras-retrospective/samaras-7_l7xwir — Pure pigment on paper 16" x 28-1/2" (40.6 cm x 72.4 cm), image; 17" x 29-1/2" (43.2 cm x 74.9 cm), sheet
© Lucas Samaras / Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York

galleries/2009/06/02/lucas-samaras-retrospective/samaras-8_grqcl3 — Pure pigment on paper 16" x 28-1/2" (40.6 cm x 72.4 cm), image; 17" x 29-1/2" (43.2 cm x 74.9 cm), sheet
© Lucas Samaras, Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York

galleries/2009/06/02/lucas-samaras-retrospective/samaras-9_srlq5p — Pure pigment on paper 16" x 28-1/2" (40.6 cm x 72.4 cm), image; 17" x 29-1/2" (43.2 cm x 74.9 cm), sheet
© Lucas Samaras, Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.