Murray Riss

Murray Riss

Murray Riss was a prominent American artist known for his unique abstract paintings and installations. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1919, Riss was a self-taught artist who began his career as a painter in the 1950s. He gained recognition for his work in the California Finish Fetish movement, which emerged in the 1960s and was characterized by its use of industrial materials and techniques. Riss's work was notable for its lyricism, bright colors, and strong geometric motifs. He often incorporated light into his installations, exploring the ways in which it interacted with metal and other materials. His most famous works include L'Etoile du Nord (1978), a large-scale installation featuring a rotating star made of aluminum and neon, and Light Walk Across the Field (1998), an immersive installation that invited viewers to walk through a field of light. Throughout his career, Riss was known for his experimental approach to art-making. He often worked with unconventional materials, such as Plexiglas and fiberglass, and his work was characterized by its innovative use of technology. Riss was also deeply influenced by the natural world, and many of his works explored themes of light, space, and movement. Despite his significant contributions to the art world, Riss remained relatively unknown outside of art circles throughout his life. However, his work has since been recognized as groundbreaking and influential, and he is now regarded as one of the most important artists of his generation.

Murray Riss, American artist, abstract paintings, installations, California Finish Fetish movement, industrial materials, light, aluminum, neon, Plexiglas, fiberglass, technology, natural world, space, movement, groundbreaking, influential

— Brian Johnson