James Coleman

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James Coleman

Born 1941 (Roscommon)

James Coleman is an Irish artist born in 1941. Coleman has chosen to use a wide array of different media, including photography, film, video, recorded sound and live performance.

James Coleman is widely regarded as having a uniquely influential role in a range of media that dominate large areas of current art practice. For more than 30 years he has used the photograph, the projected film still, the transparency, the slide show with sound track and the film as powerful means of conveying his reflections on the meaning of the image, whether moving or static. ¹

Bio & Career

James Coleman was born in Ballaghadereen, Ireland in 1941. He lives and works in Dublin and Paris. Since his first exhibition in 1970, Coleman’s pioneering practice has redefined our understanding and expectations of time-based work and has had an immeasurable influence on subsequent generations of artists. Coleman’s critique of the photographic image through meticulously composed slide, film and video projections engages the viewers understanding of how an image accrues meaning and the viewers’ role in defining the experience of the photographic image. While Coleman assigns a subtle conceptual and temporal aspect to the experience of the image, his works are characterised by an elegance that results from his embrace of the photographic image’s inherent uncertainties and potential.

Coleman studies at the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris and the Accademia di Belle Arti, Milan as well as the Central School of Art and Design, London, the National College of Art and Design University College, Dublin. In 2006 Coleman was awarded an honorary doctorate from the National University of Ireland, Galway and in 2002 he received the Kurt Schwitters Prize, Hannover, Germany as well as the Kunstpreis München. Coleman represented Ireland at the 1973 Paris Biennial. ²

Exhibitions

Solo exhibitions

2021, James Coleman, Centre Pompidou Paris ,4e, Paris, France
2019, James Coleman: Lapsus Exposure, MUMOK, Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig ,Vienna, Austria
2017, James Coleman, Marian Goodman Gallery, New York ,Midtown, New York, USA
2016, James Coleman,Marian Goodman Gallery, London ,London, UK
2012, James Coleman, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía ,Madrid, Spain
2011, James Coleman, The Royal Hibernian Academy Galleries ,Dublin, Ireland
2009, James Coleman, Project Arts Centre, in collaboration with IMMA and the Royal Hibernian Gallery, Curated by Enrique Juncosa, former Director, IMMA
2009, James Coleman, Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)Dublin Ireland (Republic)
2009, James Coleman, RHA Gallery – Royal Hibernian Academy Dublin Ireland (Republic)
2008 James Coleman: Background, 1991-94, Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)DublinIreland (Republic)
2008, James Coleman, Compton Verney, Compton Verney, Warwickshire, United Kingdom
2007, James Coleman, Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)DublinIreland (Republic)
2006, I N I T I A L S by James Coleman, Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)Dublin Ireland (Republic)
2006, James Coleman, Galerie Marian Goodman, Paris, France
2005, James Coleman Part 2: Premiere of a new workMNAC – Museu do ChiadoLisbonPortugal
2004, James Coleman Part 1: Works by James ColemanMNAC – Museu do ChiadoLisbonPortugal
2002, Kurt-Schwitters-Preis der Niedersächsischen Sparkassenstiftung
2002, Sprengel Museum HannoverHannoverGermany
2002, James Coleman, Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus & KunstbauMunichGermany
2001, James Coleman – Charon (MIT Project)Kunstmuseum LuzernLucerneSwitzerland
2000, James Coleman, Galerie Marian Goodman, Paris, France
2000, James Coleman – Photograph (1998-1999) And Untitled: Philippe Vacher (1990)Marian Goodman Gallery, New York City, NY, United States
1999, James Coleman, Fundación Antoni TàpiesBarcelonaSpain
1999, James Coleman “Lapsus Exposure (Falsche Belichtung)”,
1993, Galerie Rüdiger Schöttle Munich Germany
1993, James Coleman, Marian Goodman Gallery, New York City, NY, United States
1997, An installation by James Coleman, Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, Netherlands
1997, James Coleman, Wiener Secession, Vienna, Austria
1996, James Coleman, Galerie Micheline Szwajcer, Antwerp, Belgium
1996, James Coleman, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
1995, James Coleman – Projected Images 1997-1994, Kunstmuseum LuzernLucerneSwitzerland
1991, James Coleman, Musée d’Art Contemporain Lyon, Lyon, France
1991, James Coleman, Lisson Gallery, London, United Kingdom
1990, James Coleman, Galerie Micheline SzwajcerAntwerpBelgium
1989, James Coleman: Charon (The Mit Project) List Visual Arts Center (LVAC)Cambridge, MAUnited States
1985, James Coleman: Tape/Slide, Video and Film Works, Institute of Contemporary Arts London (ICA) London, United Kingdom
1985, James Coleman, The Renaissance Society, Chicago, IL, United States

Group exhibitions

2022, Zusammen zeichnen – 201 Cadavres ExquisMuseum im Bellpark, Kriens. Switzerland
2020, Behind the Glass – Quotes about Books from Books about Books Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo – Oslo National Academy of the ArtsOsloNorway
2018, Aktion: Conceptual Art And Photography (1960 – 1980)Richard Saltoun London United Kingdom
2018, Inbox: Joyce in ArtMuseum voor Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen (MuHKA)AntwerpBelgium
2018, Dance to the Music of Time Galerie DvirBrussels Belgium
2017, Truth: 24 frames per second, Dallas Museum of ArtDallas, TXUnited States
2016, Carte blanche à Tino SehgalPalais de TokyoParisFrance
2016, The Eighties – A Decade of Extremes, Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen (MuHKA)Antwerp, Belgium
2015, L’inventaire, Vol.5. Acquisitions De 1992 À 1996FRAC Normandie RouenSotteville-lès-RouenFrance
2013, Cloud Illusions I RecallIrish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)DublinIreland (Republic)
2012, Stage Presence – Theatricality In Art And MediaSan Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)San Francisco, CAUnited States
2011, Volumen!Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA)Barcelona Spain
2011, In the First Circle. A Project by Imogen StidworthyFundación Antoni TàpiesBarcelonaSpain
2011, Atlas. How to carry the world on one’s back?Deichtorhallen HamburgHamburgGermany
2011, Dublin Contemporary 2011, Dublin Contemporary, Dublin, Ireland (Republic)
2011, Atlas. How to carry the world on one’s back?ZKM | Zentrum für Kunst und MedienKarlsruheGermany
2011, Tiergarten BestiariumHaus der KunstMunichGermany
2010, ATLAS ¿Cómo llevar el mundo a cuestas?Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina SofíaMadridSpain
2010, Joyce’s Artistic Effects Yasnaya Polyana MuseumTulaRussia
2010, Entr’actecatherine bastide Brussels, Belgium
2009, 1968. Die Große Unschuld Kunsthalle Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
2007, A Theater without Theater, Berardo MuseumLisbonPortugal
2007, 30/40 Part II, Marian Goodman GalleryNew York City, NYUnited States
2007, MACBA im Frankfurter KunstvereinFrankfurter KunstvereinFrankfurt/MainGermany
2007, 30/40 Part IMarian Goodman GalleryNew York City, NYUnited States
2007, Invisible Colors, Galerie Marian GoodmanParisFrance
2007, A theatre without theatre, Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA)BarcelonaSpain
2007, What does the jellyfish want? Museum LudwigCologneGermany
2007 ,On HistorySala de Arte Santander – Fundación Banco SantanderMadridSpain
2006, THE 1980s – A TOPOLOGYMuseu Serralves – Museu de Arte ContemporâneaPortoPortugal
2006, Review – 25 Jahre Österreichische Ludwig StiftungMuseum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig (MUMOK)ViennaAustria
2006, EldoradoMUDAM – Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc JeanLuxembourg, Luxembourg
2006, Group show (opening exhibition)Ellipse FoundationAlcoitão, Portugal
2006, Why Pictures Now, Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig (MUMOK)Vienna, Austria
2006, Collection of the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporainMuseum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT)Tokyo, Japan
2006, A Short History of Performance – Part IVWhitechapel Art Gallery, LondonUnited Kingdom
2005, Flashback – Revisiting the Art of the Eighties, Kunstmuseum Basel – GegenwartBaselSwitzerland
2005, Artists´ Books, revisitedArt MetropoleToronto, ONCanada
2005, On Reflection, Modern Irish Art from the 1960’s to the 1990’sCrawford Art GalleryCorkIreland (Republic)
2005, Slide Show, Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center (CAC)Cincinnati, OHUnited States
2005, Be what you want but stay where you are, Kunstinstituut Melly Rotterdam Netherlands
2005, The West as Metaphor, RHA Gallery – Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland (Republic)
2005, Slide Show, The Baltimore Museum of ArtBaltimore, MDUnited States
2005, DIE REGIERUNG – Paradiesische HandlungsräumeWiener SecessionVienna, Austria
2004, How do we want to be governed? (Figure and Ground Miami Art Central, Miami, FL, United States
2004, Contre-ImagesCarré d’Art Jean Bousquet/Musée d’art contemporainNîmes, France
2004, Joyce in Art, RHA Gallery – Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland (Republic)
2003, PartnersHaus der KunstMunichGermany
2003, The Squared Circle, Walker Art CenterMinneapolis, MNUnited States
2003, Zona People 1974-1985 Non profit art space – FirenzeMamco – musée d´art moderne et contemporainGenevaSwitzerland
2001, The First 10 Years: Selected Works from the CollectionIrish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) Dublin, Ireland (Republic)
2001, Exploding Cinema/Cinema Without WallsMuseum Boijmans van BeuningenRotterdamNetherlands
2000, Seeing TimeZKM | Zentrum für Kunst und MedienKarlsruhe, Germany
2000, Between Cinema and a Hard PlaceTate Modern, London, United Kingdom
1996, L\Centre PompidouParisFrance
1996, Hall Of Mirrors: Art And Film Since 1945The Geffen Contemporary at MOCALos Angeles, CAUnited States
1995, 1965-1975: Reconsidering the Object of ArtMOCA Grand AvenueLos Angeles, CAUnited States
1995, Les Fragmentes du désirFRAC – Nord-Pas de CalaisDunkerqueFrance
1995, Fondation Cartier: a CollectionTaipei Fine Arts MuseumTaipeiTaiwan
1994, Fondation Cartier: a CollectionNational Museum of Contemporary Art Korea – GwacheonGwacheonSouth Korea
1991, Places with a past, Gibbes Museum of ArtCharleston, SCUnited States
1989, Jardin théâtre bestiariumLe Confort ModernePoitiersFrance
1989, Theatergarden BestiariumMoMA PS1New York City, NYUnited States
1988, The Analytical Theatre: New Art from Britain, ICA – Institute of Contemporary Art – University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
1987, 20th anniversary exhibition, Lisson Gallery, London, United Kingdom
1986, Dark/light, Mercer UnionToronto, ONCanada
1986, The Mirror and the Lamp, Institute of Contemporary Arts London (ICA)London United Kingdom
1982, Reading Video, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)New York City, NY, United States