John Baldessari's 1970 Cremation of His Paintings
In 1970, California-based artist John Baldessari organized a ceremonial cremation of all his paintings created between 1953 and 1966. The event, part of a series on artistic self-destruction, took place at a crematorium. Baldessari used some of the ashes to bake cookies. This act freed him from painting, leading him to focus on photography and video. The story is featured in a Le Monde article from August 21, 2026, as part of a series titled "Autodestructions artistiques" (Artistic Self-Destructions).
Key facts
- John Baldessari cremated his paintings from 1953 to 1966 in 1970.
- The cremation took place at a crematorium.
- Some ashes were used to make cookies.
- After the cremation, Baldessari focused on photography and video.
- The event is part of a series on artistic self-destruction.
- The article was published by Le Monde on August 21, 2026.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Le Monde
Locations
- California
- United States