FULL CHRONOLOGY
NICOLA L.
Born 1932 in Mazagan, Morocco
Died 2018 in Los Angeles, California, USA
Lived and worked in New York City, USA
Education
1959 l’École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Bourse d’études, Atelier Souverbie, Paris, France
1958 Académie Julian, Paris, France
Awards
2005 Guest of Honour at the Musée de Châteauroux, France
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2021
Alison Jacques Gallery, London, UK (forthcoming)
2019
Silence, Nina Johnson, Miami, Florida, USA
2017
Nicola L: Works, 1968 to the Present, SculptureCenter, New York, USA
2016
Nicola L. and the New Millennium: The Head, LaTête, La Cabeza, Il Capo, Der Kopf – A long day’s journey to the end of the skin, Elga Wimmer PCC, New York, USA
2015
Atmosphere in White in New York, Elga Wimmer PCC, New York, USA
2014
Nicola L., Atmosphere in White, Liverpool Biennial, The Old Blind School, Liverpool, UK
2013
Body Language under the Sun and Moon, Gallery Broadway 1602, New York, USA
2008
Functional Art 1989-2008, Galerie Catberro, Paris, France
Planet Eye, Galerie Pierre-Alain Challier, Paris, France
2007
Moi Je Me Fais Du Cinema, Galerie A. Rebours, Paris, France
Nicola L. : Retrospective, Maison Européenne de la Photo, Paris, France (film screening)
The Cape of Blues, Leila Voight, Paris, France
2006
Nine Historical Hysteric Women, Galerie Patricia Dorfman, Paris, France
Nicola L. art fonctionnel, Galerie NEC, Paris, France
2005
Functional sculpture and Conceptual Art, Ingrao Gallery, New York, USA
“Bad Brains at CBGBs”, “Rock For Light”, and “Reignition”, Brooklyn Art Museum, New York, USA (film screening)
Nicola L. Invitée d’Honneur, Musée de Châteauroux, Châteauroux Cedex, France
2004
The Blue Cape, Gallery Twentieth, Los Angeles, USA
Nicola L., Musée d’Art moderne et contemporain (MAMCO), Geneva, Switzerland (installation)
2003
Nicola L., Galerie NEC, Paris, France
Functional Art, Galerie Patricia Dorfmann, Paris, France
2002
Nicola L.: Retrospective 1968-2002, curated by Luis Miret, Gallery La Casona, Havana, Cuba
2001
The Eye Modernism, Wooster Projects, New York, USA
1998
Nicola L., Galerie Lara Vincy, Paris, France
Nicola L., Stuart Par Gallery, New York, USA
1997
The Black Coat, West Bank Café, New York, USA
1996
Heads and Snails, Peder Bonnier Inc, New York, USA
1995
Femmes Fatales, Vrej Baghoomian Gallery, New York, USA
1994
Femmes Fatales, Patrice Landau Gallery, New York, USA
1993
Nicola L., White Hall Gallery, New York, USA
Nicola L., Galerie Lara Vincy, Paris, France
Nicola L., Elga Wimmer PCC, New York, USA
1992
Nicola L., Rempire Gallery, New York, USA
1989
The Story of Heads, Retrospective 1965-1975, 56 Bleecker Gallery, New York, USA
1986
Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
M HKA Museum of Contemporary Art, Antwerp, Belgium
Vrej Baghoomian Gallery, New York, USA
Thread Waxing Space, New York, USA
Galerie Lara Vincy Paris, France
Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (MAMAC), Nice, France
Le Magasin, Grenoble, France
1976
Nicola: Pénétrables, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Ibiza, Ibiza, Spain
Nicola, ICC, Antwerp, Belgium
1975
Galerie Entre, Paris, France
Galerie Plan, Knokke-le-Zoute, Belgium
Galerie Alexandra Monett, Brussels, Belgium
1974
Galerie Germain, Paris, France
1973
Nicola: Giants, Richard Foncke Gallery, Ghent, Belgium
Galerie Wadell, New York, US
Centre d’art contemporain de Flaines, France
1972
Galerie Germain, Paris, France
Galerie Ivan Spence, Ibiza, Spain
1970
Galerie Ivan Spence, Ibiza, Spain
La Fenice, Venice, Italy
Galerie Apollinaire, Milan, Italy
1969
Nicola: Vinyl Sculptures, Galerie Kontakt, Antwerp, Belgium
Daniel Templon, Paris, France
Galerie Ivan Spence, Ibiza, Spain
1968
Galerie Veranneman, Brussels, Belgium
1967
La Mama, New York, USA
1966
Galerie Boulakia, Paris, France
Selected Group Exhibitions
2021
Domestic Drama, HALLE FÜR KUNST Steiermark, Graz, Austria (forthcoming)
Made in L.A. 2020: a version, Hammer Museum and The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens Los Angeles, California, USA
2020
She-Bam Pow POP Wizz! The Amazons of Pop, Musée d’art Moderne et Contemporain (MAMAC), Nice, France
Comfort, Friedman Benda, New York, USA
2018
Soft Power, Elga Wimmer PCC, New York, USA
Chère, Arsenal Contemporary, New York, USA
2017
Body and Soul, Palazzo Pisani, Piano Nobile, Venice Biennial, Venice, Italy
2016
A Modest Proposal, Hauser & Wirth, New York, USA
2015
The World Goes Pop, Tate Modern, London, UK
2014
Exquisite Corpus, SECCA (Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art), Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
Artevida: Politica / Corpo, Museo de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2013
The Blue Route: Journeys and beauties from the Mediterranean to China, Villa Empain – Boghossian Foundation, Brussels, Belgium
XXL – Extra Extra Large, Elga Wimmer Gallery, New York, USA
A top-hat, a monocle and a butterfly, Établissement d’en face, Brussels, Belgium
2012
re.act.feminism #2 – A Performing Archive, Fundació Antoni Tàpies, Barcelona, Spain
2009
The Death of the Audience, Secession, Vienna, Austria
Elles@Centre Pomidou, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
Body by Nature, Twenty First Gallery, New York, USA
2007
The Cape of Blues, Leila Voight, Paris, France
2005
Reignition and Rock for Light, CBGBs, New York, USA
Le Corps est le paysage, Donation Mario Prassinos, Saint-Rémy De Provence, France
The Great Wall of China, Musée d’Art moderne et contemporain (MAMCO), Geneva, Switzerland
Chinese Penetrable of The Four Seasons, Gallery Imagine, Beijing, China
2004
Functional Art, Gallery Imagine, Beijing, China
2003
9 Women in the Same Coat, curated by Nicola L., Briggs Roberson Gallery, New York, USA
2001
Cycle Vivement 2002! sixième épisode, Musée d’Art moderne et contemporain (MAMCO), Geneva, Switzerland (Her work “The Rug for Five People”, 1975 is acquired by FRAC)
Juste au corps, Centre d’art Contemporain Rennes, Rennes, France
1999
El Arte dei 70, Museum of Ibiza, Ibiza, Spain
1997
Vraiment Féminisme et Art, curated by Laura Cottingham, Le Magasin, Grenoble, France
Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (MAMAC), Nice, France
1994
Logo Non Logo, Thread Waxing Space, New York, USA
1993
American Art Today: Clothing as Metaphor, The Art Museum, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
1992
Words and Images, M HKA Museum of Contemporary Art, Antwerp, Belgium
1990
Art: The Universal Language, Rempire Gallery, New York, USA
1975
JE’/NOUS, curated by Harold Szeemann, Musée d’Ixelles, Ixelles, Belgium
Centraal Museum, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Art Video, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Belgium
4th International Art Exhibition, Young Artists 1975, New York, USA
1974
Art Video, Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, France
Soft Art, organised by Charles Spencer, Camden Arts Centre, London, UK
Grandes femmes, petits formats, Galerie Iris Clert, Paris, France
1973
Galerie Vandres, Madrid, Spain
Galerie Lara Vincy, Paris, France
1972
Galerie l’Oeil de Boeuf, Paris, France
Galerie Germain, Paris, France
1971
Galerie Lucien Durand, Paris, France
Trois tendances de l’art contemporain, Dublin, Ireland; Lisbon, Portugal; Turin, Italy and Paris, France
1970
Galerie Schwarz, Milan, Italy
Galerie Rive Gauche, Paris, France
Galerie Withofs, Brussels, Belgium
1967
Biennale de Paris, France
Galerie Legendre, Paris, France
1966
Galerie Ursula Girardon, Paris, France
Performances
2017 “Blue Coat of (R)Evolution”, Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
2015 “The Red Coat – Same Skin for Everybody”, Tate Modern, London, UK
2013 “The Ghosts of the Chelsea Hotel”, FIAF, New York, USA
2012 “The Blue Cape 10th Birthday”, with Centro de Arte Contemporaneo, Wifedro Lam, Havana Biennial, Cuba
2009 “The Cape of the Blues”, Saint-Sulpice, Paris, France
2008 “The Blue Cape of Human Rights”, European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
2008 “The Red Coat for 11 People (1969)”, Performance for Canal+ at Galerie Favardin & de Verneuil, Paris, France
2007 “The Cape of Blues”, A3/Saint-Sulpice, Paris, France
2005 “The Blue Cape”, Great Wall of China with 20 Chinese artists, dedicated to the inhabitants of Beijing, China
2004 “The Blue Cape”, Bergamot Station, organised by The Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica, USA
2004 “The Blue Cape of Cinema”, during the group exhibition Love, Work, Exist – Artists and Communities, Post 1968″ with James Lee Byars, Judy Chicago, Lygia Clark, Jorg lmmendorff, Gordon Matta Clark, Lygia Pape – Nicola L., Musée d’Art moderne et contemporain (MAMCO), Geneva, Switzerland
2003 “The Blue Cape of Cinema”, during Art & Cinema, La Mostra, Venice, Italy
2001 “The Blue Cape”, with The Contemporary Ballet of Cuba Havana, Cuba (Documentary of performance produced by the Ludwig Foundation)
2000 “The Dominatrix”
1998 “The Banquet of the Beheaded”, with Lab Theater at La Mama Theater, New York, USA
1996 “Nine Femmes Fatales in a Black Coat”, La Mama Theatre, New York and Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (MAMAC), Nice, France
1992 “Same Skin for Everyone” with Fernando Arrabal, on the streets of New York City, USA
1991 “The Night Thing”, performed for the benefit of The Pollock / Krasner House and Study Center, East Hampton, New York State, USA
1979 “Travelling Penetrable”, performance in which the artist carries a suitcase containing the sculpture of a body cut into pieces around New York, USA
1975 “The Rug for Five People”, realised as part of a collaborative performance following the opening of the group exhibition JE’/NOUS, curated by Harold Szeemann, Musée d’Ixelles, Ixelles, Belgium
1975 Penetrable performance with The Plan K, Galerie de la Reine, Brussels, Belgium
1975 “The Red Coat”, The Charlotte Moorman 12th Avant-Garde Festival, New York, USA
1970 – 1973 “The Red Coat” and “Same Skin for Everyone”, performances on the streets of London, UK; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Brussels, Belgium; Gand, Belgium; Cologne, Germany; Paris, France; Flaine, France; Barcelona, Spain; Ibiza, Spain; New York, USA
1970 “The Red Coat for Eleven People”, Festival of the Isle of Wight, UK
1967 “The Pink Cylinder”, La Mama Theatre, New York, USA
1966 “The Pink Cylinder”, Paris Biennial (with The Soft Machine), France
Film
2013 “Doors Ajar at the Chelsea Hotel”
2010 “New Yorkers With A French Accent”, text by Pierre Restany and commissioned by New York Foundation of the Arts
2010 “Around the World in 80 minutes”
2000 “Quien es?”, The Tisch School of NYU, Loule Festival and Cuban Art Center, New York
1994 “Sand Sea Sky”, Film shot in 16mm
1986 “Reignition & Rock for Light (Bad Brains)”
1981 “My Name is Abbie Orphan of America”, Film shot in 16mm
1980 “Abbie Hoffman”, Documentary aired on PBS
1980 “Bad Brains at CBGB: My Picture in your Movie Baby”, Film shot in 16mm, New York City
1979 “Eva Forest from the Popular Front of the Basque Country”, Film shot in 16mm
1977 “The Heads are Still in the Island”, Film shot in 35 mm, Ibiza
Professional Experience
2005 Lectures at The French Cultural Center of Beijing, China
2003 Curates the show 9 Women in the Same Coat, Briggs Robinson Gallery, New York City, USA
1982 – 1985 Writes “The Movement”, based on interviews with Noam Chomsky, Bill Kunstler, Dave Dillenger, Kate Millet, Stokley Carmichael, Angela Davis and others.
Selected Bibliography
Sanchez, Anne-Cécile. Ex-Fan Des Sixties: Prestigium.com, 2008.
Prigent, Loic. L Majuscule: Vogue Paris, August 2008.
De Santis, Sophie. Nicola L. ‘Eye Planet’: Figaroscope, May 2008.
Cauhapé, Véronique. Nicola L ou Le Corps Eclate, Version Meubles: Le Monde, May 2008.
Morgan, Robert. Freud Said, L’Hysterie Est Une Carricature D’Oeuvre D’Art: 2006.
Indiana, Gary. A Force of Nature: Manuscript, 2006.
Greenberg, Amiel. Suisse Effervescence Post-68: Beaux Arts Magazine 2005.
Jones, Alan. Profile Nicola L.: E-maprod, 2005.
Favardin, Patrik. Nicola, Le Corps De Cette Artiste…: Citizen K 9/2003.
Verchere, Laure. La Lecon D’Anatomie De Nicola L: Elle decor 12/2003.
Germaine, Christiane. La Femme: Maison Francaise, 2003.
Semaitis, James. A Rare Group of Furniture by Nicola: 1999.
Brunhammer- M. Yvonne. Massin, L Perrin. Le Mobilier Français 1960-1998: Manuscript 1998.
Smulders, Caroline. Matiere A Risque: Art Press no.18, 1997.
Restany, Pierre. Sand Sea Sky: Manuscript, 1994.
Indiana, Gary. Sand Sea Sky: Manuscript, 1994.
Slesin, Suzan. Snail Suite of Nicola: New York Times, 1990.
Restany, Pierre. Art As Destiny: New York 1990.
Castle, Ted. The head, La Tete, Il Capo, Der Kopf: Manuscript, 1989.
Jones, Alan. Invitation Au Voyage A Profile of Nicola and Her Art: Manuscript,1986.
Restany, Pierre. Nicola and the New Millenium: Manuscript, 1986.
Restany, Pierre. A Long Day’s Journey To The End of The Skin: Manuscript, 1986.
Louie, E.1983 Collectors and more … 60th Furniture: New York Times, 1985.
Jouffroy, Alain. Nicola: Manuscript, 1975.
Reif, Rita. Using The Anatomy As A Design Motif: New York Times, 1973.
Germoz, Alain. Nicola, Des Pieds et Des Mains Qui n’en Fait Qu’A Sa Tete: Special (no 10), 1968.