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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
  1. https://imma.ie/artists/james-coleman/
  2. https://www.mariangoodman.com/artists/36-james-coleman/