About Jenny Holzer

Jenny Holzer (born 1950 in Gallipolis, Ohio) is one of the most influential figures in contemporary art, internationally recognized for her text-based works that fuse public art, political activism, and critical reflections on language. Since the late 1970s, Holzer has transformed language into a visual and conceptual medium, using words not only to communicate but also to expose the ways in which language can obscure, manipulate, and control. Her innovative practice spans LED signs, large-scale projections, stone benches, paintings, and limited edition prints, all of which challenge viewers to confront the role of words in shaping cultural and political narratives.

Central to Holzer’s practice are her public installations, which use architectural and commercial spaces to project short, incisive phrases. Works such as Protect Me From What I Want and Abuse of Power Comes As No Surprise exemplify her ability to distill complex issues of desire, power, and vulnerability into strikingly direct language. By inserting her messages into urban environments—on billboards, buildings, or electronic displays—Holzer disrupts everyday encounters with text, transforming familiar spaces into arenas for debate and reflection.

Her fascination with the advertising industry’s manipulation of language inspired her to adopt similar strategies for artistic and political ends. Unlike advertising, however, Holzer’s texts resist easy consumption, instead prompting audiences to reflect on authority, violence, consumerism, and human rights. In doing so, she bridges the gap between public and private spheres, making art accessible to wide audiences far beyond the traditional gallery setting.

Beyond her public interventions, Jenny Holzer has built a significant body of work in printmaking and painting. Her limited edition prints and text-based paintings explore the visual power of language in more intimate formats, offering collectors and institutions a way to engage with her thought-provoking art. Through these works, Holzer reaffirms the enduring impact of words—both spoken and unspoken—on human perception, memory, and behavior.

Notable exhibitions

Jenny Holzer’s contributions to contemporary art have been recognized worldwide, most notably when she represented the United States at the Venice Biennale in 1990 and became the first woman to receive the prestigious Golden Lion for Best Pavilion. This milestone cemented her reputation as a groundbreaking artist whose work bridges language, politics, and public space.

Her extensive exhibition history includes major retrospectives and solo shows at globally renowned institutions such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and Bilbao, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, and Tate Modern in London. In addition, she has presented large-scale projects at the Barbican Centre, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin.

Beyond museum walls, Holzer has staged monumental public installations at iconic venues, including Times Square and Rockefeller Center in New York, and the Louvre in Paris. These ambitious works extend her practice into the urban landscape, reinforcing her role as one of the most important contemporary artists of her generation.

Through her awards, exhibitions, and public projects, Jenny Holzer continues to influence the global art world, using text, projection, and printmaking to challenge audiences and inspire reflection on power, memory, and human rights.