Process Art Pioneer Barry La Va Dies at 80

Barry La Va, a foundational figure in Process art, has died at age 80. His career was defined by shifting focus from finished objects to the actions and materials of creation. In 1969, he participated in the influential Whitney Museum exhibition 'Anti-Illusion: Procedure/Materials' alongside artists like Lynda Benglis and Richard Serra, where he scattered flour across the floor. That same year, he created a sound installation for the Whitney by recording himself repeatedly running into a corridor wall. His early sculptures included driving meat cleavers into gallery walls and arranging felt, ball bearings, and planks across floors. Born in 1941 in Long Beach, California, he studied at California State University, Los Angeles College of Art & Design, and the Otis Art Institute. His influences ranged from Frank Lloyd Wright to detective stories. He was invited to Documenta in 1972 by curator Harald Szeemann and participated again in 1977 and 1982. Major surveys of his work have been presented at institutions including the New Museum in New York, the Rijksmuseum Kröller-Müller in the Netherlands, and the Serralves Museum in Porto.