Joan Jonas (New York, 1936) is an icon in the field of multimedia art, a pioneer who has redefined the concept of performance and installation in the contemporary art scene. Her innovative and multidisciplinary artistic practice has influenced generations of artists, inspiring deep reflections on the nature of art, storytelling, and the relationship between the viewer and the artwork.

Born in New York City, Joan Jonas began her artistic career in the 1960s as a sculptor before exploring new territories in visual art, including video, performance, and installation. One of the first to embrace the potential of video as an artistic medium, Jonas developed a unique visual language that blends theatrical elements, cultural rituals, and mythological narration.

One of Jonas's most celebrated works is "Vertical Roll" from 1972, a pioneering video-performance that explores visual distortions and technical issues of the television medium. Through her physical presence and manipulation of objects, Jonas transforms the screen space into a field of exploration for her conceptual ideas.

In addition to her contributions in the realms of video and performance, Joan Jonas is also renowned for her immersive installations that engage the audience in complex sensory and narrative experiences. Works such as "The Shape, The Scent, The Feel of Things" from 2004 offer an interactive experience where viewers are immersed in a world of symbols, sounds, and images that evoke myths, legends, and reflections on human and environmental nature.




Jonas's work has been widely exhibited around the world, with shows at prestigious institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate Modern in London, and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid. Over the years, she has received numerous awards, including the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale in 2009 and the Praemium Imperiale for Painting in 2018.

Her influence in contemporary art is evident not only through her works but also through her role as a mentor and educator. Joan Jonas has taught at art institutions worldwide, guiding and inspiring new generations of artists to explore new ways of conceiving and creating art.

In an era where the boundaries between artistic disciplines are increasingly blurring, Joan Jonas's legacy as a visionary in multimedia art continues to inspire artists and audiences, inviting them to explore the frontiers of creativity and human expression.



At the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the most extensive retrospective ever dedicated to the artist is currently underway, titled "Good night Good morning." It features a selection of videos, performances, installations, designs, and photographs spanning over fifty years of work, from 1968 to the present day. For this project, the artist has actively collaborated in its realization, conceiving the exhibition alongside the curators and even adapting some of her historic works for the occasion.