David Altmejd
Encyclopedia
David Altmejd is a Canadian
artist (born in Montreal
in 1974) who lives and works in both Montreal
and London, England.
In 2001, he completed his Masters of Fine Arts at Columbia University
. He also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Université du Québec à Montréal
, in Montreal, Canada. Since graduating with his MFA, he has taken part in many high profile group shows at important spaces as impressive as Artists Space and Deitch Projects
, both in New York City. In 2003, he was curated by Dan Cameron into the 8th International Istanbul Biennial
. In 2004, he was included in the Whitney Biennial of American Art. In 2007, he represented Canada at the Venice Biennale
; his installation "The Index", curated by Louise Déry, was subsequently purchased by the Art Gallery of Ontario
.
David Altmejd's sculptures mix seemingly random objects such as decapitated werewolf
heads with graffiti-style
Stars of David
, stained Calvin Klein
underwear, towers made of mirror
s, plastic flowers and faux jewelry
, to create sculptural systems loaded with what he calls “symbolic potential” and open ended narratives. Werewolf heads have appeared so frequently in his work that in the contemporary art world, they are widely recognized as being closely affiliated with this artist.
Altmejd is represented in New York City by Andrea Rosen Gallery, Xavier Hufkens
, Brussels and Stuart Shave/Modern Art, London.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
artist (born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 1974) who lives and works in both Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and London, England.
In 2001, he completed his Masters of Fine Arts at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Université du Québec à Montréal
Université du Québec à Montréal
The Université du Québec à Montréal is one of four universities in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Basic facts:The UQAM is the largest constituent element of the Université du Québec , a public university system with other branches in Gatineau , Rimouski, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec City, Chicoutimi, and...
, in Montreal, Canada. Since graduating with his MFA, he has taken part in many high profile group shows at important spaces as impressive as Artists Space and Deitch Projects
Deitch Projects
Deitch Projects was a contemporary art gallery in New York City founded by Jeffrey Deitch.-History:Since opening with a performance by Vanessa Beecroft in February 1996, the gallery has presented nearly one hundred and eighteen solo exhibitions and projects, ten thematic exhibitions, and a few...
, both in New York City. In 2003, he was curated by Dan Cameron into the 8th International Istanbul Biennial
Istanbul Biennial
The International Istanbul Biennial is a contemporary art exhibition, held every two years in Istanbul, Turkey, since 1987. The biennial is organised by the İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts. The Biennial aims to create a meeting point in İstanbul in the field of visual arts between artists...
. In 2004, he was included in the Whitney Biennial of American Art. In 2007, he represented Canada at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
; his installation "The Index", curated by Louise Déry, was subsequently purchased by the Art Gallery of Ontario
Art Gallery of Ontario
Under the direction of its CEO Matthew Teitelbaum, the AGO embarked on a $254 million redevelopment plan by architect Frank Gehry in 2004, called Transformation AGO. The new addition would require demolition of the 1992 Post-Modernist wing by Barton Myers and Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg...
.
David Altmejd's sculptures mix seemingly random objects such as decapitated werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
heads with graffiti-style
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
Stars of David
Star of David
The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
, stained Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
underwear, towers made of mirror
Mirror
A mirror is an object that reflects light or sound in a way that preserves much of its original quality prior to its contact with the mirror. Some mirrors also filter out some wavelengths, while preserving other wavelengths in the reflection...
s, plastic flowers and faux jewelry
Costume jewelry
Costume jewelry is jewelry manufactured as ornamentation to complement a particular fashionable costume or garment. Costume jewelry came into being in the 1930s as a cheap, disposable accessory meant to be worn with a specific outfit...
, to create sculptural systems loaded with what he calls “symbolic potential” and open ended narratives. Werewolf heads have appeared so frequently in his work that in the contemporary art world, they are widely recognized as being closely affiliated with this artist.
Altmejd is represented in New York City by Andrea Rosen Gallery, Xavier Hufkens
Xavier Hufkens
Xavier Hufkens is a European gallery owner and dealer in contemporary art. Since its founding in 1987, his gallery has been committed to the long term representation of established, mid-career and emerging artists. The gallery deals in a combination of painting, drawing, sculpture, photography,...
, Brussels and Stuart Shave/Modern Art, London.