Robert Blanchon

The Robert Blanchon monograph is the complete work of Robert Blanchon, including full color images, an annotated color checklist, selected writings, and a special insert inspired by Blanchon's untitled (sympathy) series.

Essays by Gregg Bordowitz and Sasha Archibold. Images and writing by Robert Blanchon. Forward by Amy Sadao.

Robert Blanchon (1965-1999) was a conceptual artist whose decade-long exhibition history is marked by a witty, insightful treatment of loss, memory and mortality; mischievousness concerning the pretenses of the art world, and an original treatment of the construction of identity. Blanchon's interest in photography -- specifically, the materiality of a photograph -- did not preclude works in sculpture, video, mail art, text and performance. Like his predecessors Paul Thek, David Wojnarowicz and Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Blanchon sought relevance beyond the poetics of queer culture. Indeed, the vulnerability, pathos and humor of Blanchon's oeuvre resonate with anyone who has felt the fragility of being human. He died at a moment of increasing exhibition opportunities and growing critical acclaim. Blanchon was feverishly productive in his condensed life span and left behind a body of work with unusually lucid themes.

In 2003, Visual AIDS, in partnership with the estate of Robert Blanchon, began archiving the work that comprises the Robert Blanchon. The presentation of Robert's work is rooted in Visual AIDS' mission to ensure the legacy of visual artists with HIV and work to secure their place in art history. Robert, who died in 1999 after working prodigiously as an artist, professor, arts administrator and provocateur, has always been at the center of those artists whose work was influential, timely, important and threatened to be forgotten.

The Robert Blanchon monograph edited by Tania Duvergne, Amy Sadao and Nelson Santos. Support by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, The Judith Rothschild Foundation and The Norton Family Foundation.