First Major Monograph on Fluxus Pioneer Alison Knowles Published
Nicole L. Woods has written "Performing Chance: The Art of Alison Knowles In/Out of Fluxus," marking the first significant publication about the late Fluxus artist Alison Knowles, who passed away in New York City at the age of 92 in the fall of 2022. Released by the University of Chicago Press in 2026, the book examines Knowles's artistic contributions from 1958 to 1975. Woods characterizes Knowles, the sole female founding member of Fluxus, as "generally noted but woefully understudied." The monograph discusses notable pieces such as "Proposition #2: Make a Salad" (1962) and "Journal of the Identical Lunch" (1971), yet it offers limited insights into her personal life and rarely features her voice, prompting a demand for additional biographical information.
Key facts
- Nicole L. Woods authored the first major book on Alison Knowles, titled 'Performing Chance: The Art of Alison Knowles In/Out of Fluxus'.
- Alison Knowles died in New York City last fall at age 92.
- Knowles was the only female founding member of the Fluxus group.
- The book covers Knowles's career from approximately 1958 to 1975.
- Knowles's 'Proposition #2: Make a Salad' debuted in October 1962 at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts during the Festival of Misfits curated by Victor Musgrave.
- Knowles studied painting at Pratt Institute under Adolph Gottlieb and Franz Kline.
- Josef Albers exiled Knowles to a basement at Syracuse University, leading her to abandon traditional artmaking.
- Woods spent nearly 20 years interviewing Knowles in her SoHo studio loft.
Entities
Artists
- Alison Knowles
- Nicole L. Woods
- Adolph Gottlieb
- Franz Kline
- Josef Albers
- Victor Musgrave
- Dick Higgins
- Helen Frankenthaler
Institutions
- University of Chicago Press
- Pratt Institute
- Syracuse University
- Institute of Contemporary Arts
- Fluxus
- Artforum
Locations
- New York City
- London
- Great Britain
- Brooklyn
- SoHo