Robert Morris was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1931. In the early Sixties, he moved to New York, and he focused on Process Art and Dance. Morris used to accompany the artistic production with substantial theoretical activity. Morris is considered one of the founding fathers of Minimalism and one of the first to encourage the research around Land Art; he also theorized the “Anti-Form” mainly in the magazine Artforum, with which he has collaborated since the Sixties.

Starting from the same years, he introduced in his artistic studies monumental sculptures, often in industrial geometric modules. At the same time, fate and gravity remain pivotal interaction elements, for example, in his felt works and his scatter pieces.

Throughout the years, giving up with the rules of Minimalism, Morris started to work on an environmental scale, for instance, with his labyrinths. After, he returned to the direct relationship between sculpture and the human body: his extreme outcomes involve textiles or other modeling materials directly around the bodies, keeping their shape and hint.

Over the decades, his works ranged between different media - from installation to painting and sculpture, up to the video, through which he talked about fate, uncertainty, and motion. Rober Morris died in Kingston, New York, in 2018.

Morris was involved in the most important exhibitions of Post War Art, taking part in the Arte Povera shows, curated by Germano Celant, and even in the legendary show When Attitude Become Form curated by Harald Szeemann in Bern (1969). Moreover, he participated in different Documenta editions in Kassel and various Biennials of Venice.

 

In addition, tens of museum collections keep his art, among these, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art di Washington.

In 1994, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum di New York organized a retrospective on Robert Morris, subsequently hosted by the Deichtorhallen in Amburgo and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Recently, The National Gallery in Rome has dedicated to his latest production a huge exhibition conceived with him but opened only after his death, between 2019 and 2020.

 

 

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS ​

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2022

Robert morris, 4 Rings, 2 Centers, Osart Gallery, Milan

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2021

Robert Morris, In the Realm of the Carceral, 1978 with Giovanni Battista Piranesi Leo Castelli Gallery New York City, NY United States

 

2020

Robert Morris Untitled (mirrored Cubes 1965-1971) Musée d'art moderne et contemporain de Saint-Étienne (MAMC) Saint-Etienne France

Robert Morris - The Perceiving Body MUDAM - Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean, Luxembourg 

Robert Morris: Labyrinth and Blind Time Drawings Leo Castelli Gallery New York City, NY US

Robert Morris: Voice, 1974Leo Castelli Gallery New York City, NY US

 

2019

Robert Morris - Monumentum 2015–2018 Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna (GNAM) Rome, Italy

Robert Morris - The perceiving body / le corps perceptif Musée d'art moderne et contemporain de Saint-Étienne (MAMC) Saint-Etienne, France

 

2018

Robert Morris. Banners and Curses Leo Castelli Gallery New York City, NY US

 

2017

Robert Morris Boustrophedons Leo Castelli Gallery New York City, NY US

Robert Morris - Seeing As Is Not Saying That Leo Castelli Gallery New York City, NY US

 

2016

Robert Morris Sprüth Magers Berlin Germany

Robert Morris - Seeing As Is Not Saying That Leo Castelli Gallery New York City, NY US

 

2015

Robert Morris – Moltingsexoskeletonsshrouds Leo Castelli Gallery New York City, NY US

 

2014

Robert Morris Sonnabend Gallery New York City, NY US

Robert Morris Red and Black Black and RedLeo Castelli Gallery New York City, NY US

 

2013

HANGING SOFT AND STANDING HARDSprüth MagersLondonUnited Kingdom

Robert MorrisSprüth MagersBerlinGermany

 

2012

Mind / Body / Earth Asheville Art MuseumAsheville, NC US

Robert Morris - Ten Works Five Decades Leo Castelli Gallery New York City, NY US

Robert Morris Sonnabend Gallery New York City, NY US

Robert Morris Sprüth Magers Berlin Germany

 

2011

Robert Morris: Drawings 1961-1976 Craig F. Starr Gallery New York City, NY United States

untitled 1968, Expanded Aluminium 16 Units Galerie Jürgen Becker Hamburg Germany

Robert Morris: Filmes E VÍdeos/corpoespaÇo Movimentocoisas Museu Serralves - Museu de Arte Contemporânea Porto Portugal

Robert Morris - 1934 and Before Leo Castelli GalleryNew York City, NY United States

 

2010

Blind Time Sprüth Magers Berlin Germany

Robert Morris. Notes On Sculpture. Miejska Galeria Sztuki Lodz Lodz Poland

Robert Morris. Notes On Sculpturems2 – Muzeum Sztuki Lodz Lodz Poland

Robert Morris - Untitled (Scatter Piece), 1968 – 69 Leo Castelli Gallery New York City, NY US

Robert Morris Städtisches Museum Abteiberg, Mönchengladbach, Germany

 

2009

Robert Morris - Notes on Sculpture Städtisches Museum Abteiberg Mönchengladbach, Germany

 

2008

Deflationary Objects Leo Castelli Gallery New York City, NY United States

Robert Morris - Notes on Sculpture Städtisches Museum Abteiberg Mönchengladbach, Germany

Morning Star Evening StarSprüth Magers, London UK

The Birthday Boy - Leo Castelli Gallery New York City, NY US

Robert Morris - The Birthday Boy Simon Fraser University Art Gallery Burnaby, BC Canada

 

2007

Robert Morris, Sonnabend Gallery New York City, NY US

 

2006

Robert Morris - Waxing Time, Waning Light: New Paintings. Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY US

Robert Morris, Musée d'Art Contemporain Lyon, Lyon France

Robert Morris Lieu d'Art Contemporaine (L.A.C.), Sigean France

Robert Morris : In the Realm of the Carceral. Galerie de multiples – GDM Paris France

 

2005

Robert Morris - Early Sculpture, Sprüth Magers, London United Kingdom

Early Sculpture, Simon Lee Gallery, London United Kingdom

Robert Morris Center for Contemporary Art Luigi Pecci, Prato, PO Italy

Robert Morris. Small Fires and Mnemonic Nights. Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY US

 

2003

Robert Morris Haim Chanin Fine Art, New York City, NY US

Robert Morris - The Lemma Leads. Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY US

 

2002

Robert Morris : Crisis and War and Memory and Dancing and other drawings. Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY United States

 

2001

Robert Morris, Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art (SDMA)New Paltz, NY United States

Robert Morris, Lance Fung Gallery, New York City, NY United States

 

2000

Robert Morris - White Nights, Musée d'Art Contemporain Lyon, Lyon France

Robert Morris - Early Felts. Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY United States

 

1999

Robert Morris Musée d'Art Contemporain Lyon, Lyon France

 

1998

Robert Morris - Open-Center-Sculptures & Crucibles Mamco - musée d´art moderne et contemporain, Geneva Switzerland

Robert Morris - The Rationed Years. Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY US

Robert Morris, Musée d'Art Contemporain Lyon, LyonFrance

Robert Morris - L'Oeuvre ImprimeMAH - Musée d'art et d'histoire, Geneva Switzerland

 

1997

Robert Morris, 1963-1992The Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art GalleryPortland, OR United States

Robert Morris: Tar Babies of the New World Order, Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Rome Italy

Robert Morris: Recent Felt Pieces and DrawingsHenry Moore Institute Leeds, United Kingdom

Robert Morris – Felt Pieces Kunstverein Hannover, Hannover Germany

Robert Morris - Horizons Cut, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY United States

 

1995

Robert Morris - Exposition rétrospective 1961-1994 Centre Pompidou, Paris France

Robert Morris - SteamCAPC - Musée d'art contemporainBordeauxFrance

Robert Morris – The Mind / Body Problem Deichtorhallen Hamburg, Hamburg Germany

Robert Morris - Malaprops / The Fallen and the Saved, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY US

 

1994

Robert Morris, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NYUnited States

Robert Morris: The Mind/Body ProblemSolomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York City, NY US

 

1993

Robert Morris - Blind Time Drawings, Leo Castelli GalleryNew York City, NY US

Robert Morris Akira Ikeda – Taura, Taura Japan

 

1991

Robert Morris: The I-Beam Suite, Margo Leavin Gallery, Los Angeles, CA US

Robert Morris, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY US

 

1990

Inability to Endure or Deny the World: Representation and Text in the Work of Robert Morris, The Corcoran Gallery of Art Washington, DC United States

Robert Morris,Jonathan O’Hara Gallery, New York City, NY United States

Robert Morris, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY United States

 

1989

Robert Morris, Margo Leavin Gallery, Los Angeles, CA United States

 

1988

Robert Morris, Galerie Templon, Paris France

Robert Morris Akira Ikeda – Nagoya NagoyaJapan

Robert Morris, Leo Castelli GalleryNew York City, NY United States

 

1986

Robert Morris: Works of the Eighties, Orange County Museum of Art Newport Beach, US

Robert Morris - Works of the eighties, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA), Chicago, US

 

1985

Robert Morris, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY United States

 

1984

I disegni di Robert Morris Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea (PAC), Milan Italy

Robert Morris, Malmö Konsthall, Malmö Sweden

 

1983

Robert Morris, Galerie Templon, Paris France

Robert Morris, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY United States

Robert Morris – Psychomachia, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY United States

 

1981

Robert Morris: Selected Works 1970–1980, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH), Houston, TX United States

 

1980

Robert Morris, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY United States

Robert Morris, Waddington Custot Galleries, London United Kingdom

Society for Contemporary Art: Robert Morris, The Art Institute of ChicagoChicago, IL US

 

1979

Robert Morris - 6 Mirror WorksLeo Castelli GalleryNew York City, NY United States

Robert Morris - Recent Paintings, Washburn Gallery, New York City, NY United States

 

1976

Robert Morris - Black and White Felts Leo Castelli Gallery New York City, NY United States

Robert Morris, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY United States

Robert Morris - Recent Paintings, Washburn GalleryNew York City, NY United States

 

1974

Robert Morris – Voice, Leo Castelli GalleryNew York City, NY United States

Robert Morris – projects ICA - Institute of Contemporary Art - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA United States

 

1973

Robert Morris: SculptureThe Corcoran Gallery of ArtWashington, DCUnited States

 

1972

Robert Morris – Projects, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY United States

Robert Morris – Hearing, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY United States

 

1970

Robert Morris, Whitney Museum of American ArtNew York City, NY United States

Robert Morris, Art Museum - UC Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA United States

Robert Morris - Earthwork Projects, Leo Castelli GalleryNew York City, NY United States

 

1969

Robert Morris, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC United States

Robert Morris, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY United States

 

1968

Robert Morris, Leo Castelli GalleryNew York City, NY United States

Robert Morris, Stedelijk Van Abbe museum Eindhoven, Netherlands

 

1967

Robert Morris, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, NY United States

 

1966

Robert Morris: Sculpture, Dwan Gallery, Los Angeles, CA United States

 

1964

Robert Morris, Galerie Schmela, Dusseldorf Germany