Thing/Thought: Fluxus Editions, 1962-1978

September 21, 2011–January 16, 2012
The Paul J. Sachs Prints and Illustrated Books Galleries, second floor


Together with festivals, street actions, and musical events, artists’ editions played an essential role in Fluxus, a network of artists that emerged in the early 1960s in the United States, Europe, and Japan, A central figure in the group, artist and designer George Maciunas conceived of Fluxus Editions—affordable and portable publications and multiples meant to introduce revolutionary art into everyday experience and to publicize the group’s ideas on an international scale. Often housed in small boxes or kits, the works incorporate photography, performance scores, film, and found objects, reflecting an interdisciplinary, conceptual, and often playful approach. Dozens of projects resulted, including works by George Brecht, Robert Filliou, Willem de Ridder, Milan Knížák, Alison Knowles, Yoko Ono, Nam June Paik, Benjamin Patterson, Mieko Shiomi, Ben Vautier, and Robert Watts. Drawn largely from the Gilbert and Lila Silverman Fluxus Collection Gift, this exhibition explores the many aspects of the group’s innovative production. Organized by Gretchen L. Wagner, The Sue and Eugene Mercy, Jr., Assistant Curator, Department of Prints and Illustrated Books, The Museum of Modern Art, and Jon Hendricks, Fluxus Consulting Curator.


During the course of the exhibition, the display of Fluxkits at the center of the gallery will change.
Artists—some who were original members of Fluxus—have been invited to select objects from the two Fluxkits and determine their arrangement.


Mieko Shiomi (Japanese, born 1938)
September 21–October 24, 2011

Alison Knowles (American, born 1933)
September 28–October 31, 2011

Dora Maurer (Hungarian, born 1937)
October 26–November 28, 2011

Anna Ostoya (Polish, born 1978)
November 2–December 12, 2011

Cory Arcangel (American, born 1978)
November 30, 2011–January 16, 2012

William Pope.L (American, born 1955)
December 14, 2011–January 16, 2012


The artists’ involvement in the exhibition is supported through the generosity of the Associates of the Department of Prints and Illustrated Books.

For downloadable high-resolution images, register at MoMA.org/press