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Charles Atlas - Artists - Luhring Augustine
Charles Atlas - Artists - Luhring Augustine

Charles Atlas
Painting by Numbers, 2011
Installation view of The Illusion of Democracy
February 18  – July 15, 2012
Luhring Augustine Bushwick, New York

Charles Atlas has been a pioneering figure in film and video for over four decades. Atlas has extended the limits of his medium, forging new territory in a far-reaching range of genres, stylistic approaches, and techniques. Throughout his production, the artist has consistently fostered collaborative relationships, working intimately with such artists and performers as Leigh Bowery, Michael Clark, Douglas Dunn, Marina Abramovic, Yvonne Rainer, Mika Tajima/New Humans, Antony and the Johnsons, and most notably Merce Cunningham, for whom he served as in-house videographer for a decade from the early 1970s through 1983; their close working relationship continued until Cunningham’s death in 2009.

Charles Atlas - Artists - Luhring Augustine

Charles Atlas
Collaboration with Michael Clark (choreography)
Hail the New Puritan, 1986
16mm film transferred to video, sound, Duration: 84 minutes, 54 seconds

Atlas was born in St. Louis, MO in 1949; he has lived and worked in New York City since the early 1970s. In October 2024, the ICA Boston will open the first U.S. museum survey devoted to Atlas' work; the presentation will run through March 2025 and is accompanied by a major new publication. Recent solo exhibitions include The Mathematics of Consciousness, a 100-foot long video installation commissioned by Pioneer Works, Brooklyn, NY, and supported by a grant from the VIA Art Fund (2022); Charles Atlas: Ominous, Glamorous, Momentous, Ridiculous, Fondazione ICA Milano, Italy (2021); and Charles Atlas: The past is here, the futures are coming and The Kitchen Follies, The Kitchen, New York (2018).

Atlas’ work is included in the permanent collections of major institutions worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Art Institute of Chicago; San Francisco Museum of Art; Tate Modern, London; Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart, Berlin; Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Zürich; and De Hallen Haarlem, The Netherlands. In 2024, The Getty Research Institute acquired the archive of Charles Atlas.

Artworks Nested Slideshow

Artworks Nested Slideshow Thumbnails
Charles Atlas
Turning Portraits, 2020
4-channel sync video installation
Duration: 6 minutes 5 seconds
 

Charles Atlas
Turning Portraits, 2020
4-channel sync video installation
Duration: 6 minutes 5 seconds
 

Charles Atlas
MC9, 2012
as part of Charles Atlas and Collaborators, 2013, BMW Tate Live, The Tanks, Tate Modern
Photo: Gabrielle Fonseca Johnson for Tate Photography

Charles Atlas
MC9, 2012
as part of Charles Atlas and Collaborators, 2013, BMW Tate Live, The Tanks, Tate Modern
Photo: Gabrielle Fonseca Johnson for Tate Photography

Charles Atlas

The Geometry of Thought, 2019

Music Lazar Bozic featuring James K.

Charles Atlas

The Geometry of Thought, 2019

Music Lazar Bozic featuring James K.

Charles Atlas
Tesseract ▢, 2017
Stereoscopic 3D video (two digital files)
Duration: 42 minutes

Charles Atlas
Tesseract ▢, 2017
Stereoscopic 3D video (two digital files)
Duration: 42 minutes

Charles Atlas
Life's A Beach, 2014/2019
Single-channel video with sound
Duration: 2 minutes, 45 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs

Charles Atlas
Life's A Beach, 2014/2019
Single-channel video with sound
Duration: 2 minutes, 45 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs

Charles Atlas
Mrs. Peanut Visits New York, 1992-1999
Video, sound
Duration: 6 minutes, 8 seconds

Charles Atlas
Mrs. Peanut Visits New York, 1992-1999
Video, sound
Duration: 6 minutes, 8 seconds

Charles Atlas
Plato's Alley, 2008
Single channel video projection (silent)
Duration: 6 minutes 40 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs

Charles Atlas
Plato's Alley, 2008
Single channel video projection (silent)
Duration: 6 minutes 40 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs

Charles Atlas
Painting by Numbers, 2011
Installation view of The Illusion of Democracy
February 18  – July 15, 2012
Luhring Augustine Bushwick, New York

Charles Atlas
Painting by Numbers, 2011
Installation view of The Illusion of Democracy
February 18  – July 15, 2012
Luhring Augustine Bushwick, New York

Charles Atlas
143652, 2012
Installation view of The Illusion of Democracy
February 18 – July 15, 2012
Luhring Augustine Bushwick, New York

Charles Atlas
143652, 2012
Installation view of The Illusion of Democracy
February 18 – July 15, 2012
Luhring Augustine Bushwick, New York

Charles Atlas
The Waning of Justice, 2015
Multi-channel video installation with sound
Duration: 23 minutes, 44 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proof

Charles Atlas
The Waning of Justice, 2015
Multi-channel video installation with sound
Duration: 23 minutes, 44 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proof

Charles Atlas
Kiss the Day Goodbye, 2015
Two-channel video installation with sound
Duration: 19 minutes, 15 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs
 

Charles Atlas
Kiss the Day Goodbye, 2015
Two-channel video installation with sound
Duration: 19 minutes, 15 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs
 

Charles Atlas
Here she is... v1, 2011
Single channel video installation with sound
Duration: 22 minutes 48 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs
 

Charles Atlas
Here she is... v1, 2011
Single channel video installation with sound
Duration: 22 minutes 48 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs
 

Charles Atlas
Mayonnaise Number One, 1973
16mm film transferred to digital video, silent
Duration: 11 minutes, 8 seconds
Performer: Douglas Dunn

Charles Atlas
Mayonnaise Number One, 1973
16mm film transferred to digital video, silent
Duration: 11 minutes, 8 seconds
Performer: Douglas Dunn

Charles Atlas
DANCENOISE Scraps, 2010
Video, sound
Duration: 9 minutes, 21 seconds

Charles Atlas
DANCENOISE Scraps, 2010
Video, sound
Duration: 9 minutes, 21 seconds

Charles Atlas
What Does Unstable Time Even Mean?, 2015
High-definition video, sound
Duration: 4 minutes, 37 seconds
Choreography: Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener
Music: Eric Holm
 

Charles Atlas
What Does Unstable Time Even Mean?, 2015
High-definition video, sound
Duration: 4 minutes, 37 seconds
Choreography: Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener
Music: Eric Holm
 

Charles Atlas
Teach, 1992/1998
Single-channel video projection, sound
Duration: 7 minutes, 47 seconds

Charles Atlas
Teach, 1992/1998
Single-channel video projection, sound
Duration: 7 minutes, 47 seconds

Charles Atlas
99 (Johanna), 1999
Single-channel video projection, sound
Duration: 4 minutes, 55 seconds

Charles Atlas
99 (Johanna), 1999
Single-channel video projection, sound
Duration: 4 minutes, 55 seconds

Charles Atlas
Be Nice (Anne), 2000
Single-channel video projection, sound
Duration: 2 minutes, 50 seconds

Charles Atlas
Be Nice (Anne), 2000
Single-channel video projection, sound
Duration: 2 minutes, 50 seconds

Charles Atlas
2003, 2018
Installation view of Charles Atlas: the past is here, the futures are coming
The Kitchen, 2018
Photo: Jason Mandella

Charles Atlas
2003, 2018
Installation view of Charles Atlas: the past is here, the futures are coming
The Kitchen, 2018
Photo: Jason Mandella

Charles Atlas
Joints 4tet for Ensemble, 1971/2011
Installation view of Discount Body Parts at De Hallen Haarlem, The Netherlands, March 16 - June 3, 2012

Charles Atlas
Joints 4tet for Ensemble, 1971/2011
Installation view of Discount Body Parts at De Hallen Haarlem, The Netherlands, March 16 - June 3, 2012

Charles Atlas
The Years, 2018
Installation view of Charles Atlas: the past is here, the futures are coming at The Kitchen, 2018
Photo: Jason Mandella

Charles Atlas
The Years, 2018
Installation view of Charles Atlas: the past is here, the futures are coming at The Kitchen, 2018
Photo: Jason Mandella

Charles Atlas
Glacier
Installation view
Bloomberg Space, London, 2013

Charles Atlas
Glacier
Installation view
Bloomberg Space, London, 2013

Charles Atlas
Cowboy Body
Installation view at The Contemporary, Austin, 2015

Charles Atlas
Cowboy Body
Installation view at The Contemporary, Austin, 2015

Charles Atlas

Institute for Turbulence Research, 2008

Four-channel synchronized video projection

Transparent screen, VMU

Duration: 6 minutes

Charles Atlas

Institute for Turbulence Research, 2008

Four-channel synchronized video projection

Transparent screen, VMU

Duration: 6 minutes

Charles Atlas

A Prune Twin, 2020

Installation view of Michael Clark: Cosmic Dancer, Barbican Art Gallery, UK, October 7, 2020 – January 3, 2021

Charles Atlas

A Prune Twin, 2020

Installation view of Michael Clark: Cosmic Dancer, Barbican Art Gallery, UK, October 7, 2020 – January 3, 2021

Charles Atlas

Chicken Dance Joe, 2003

Video, sound

Duration: 2 minutes, 26 seconds

Charles Atlas

Chicken Dance Joe, 2003

Video, sound

Duration: 2 minutes, 26 seconds

Charles Atlas
Aria, 1999
16mm film transferred to digital video, sound
Duration: 6 minutes, 8 seconds

Charles Atlas
Aria, 1999
16mm film transferred to digital video, sound
Duration: 6 minutes, 8 seconds

Charles Atlas
Joints4tet, 2011
Four-channel projection with sound
Duration: 13 minutes
 

Charles Atlas
Joints4tet, 2011
Four-channel projection with sound
Duration: 13 minutes
 

Charles Atlas
Nevada, 1974
Film/dance
Super-8mm film
Silent
2 minutes 53 seconds

Charles Atlas
Nevada, 1974
Film/dance
Super-8mm film
Silent
2 minutes 53 seconds

Charles Atlas
The Grand Dance of the Jolly Three, 1973/2010
Super 8mm film transferred to video, black-and-white and color, silent
Duration: 2 minutes, 27 seconds

Charles Atlas
The Grand Dance of the Jolly Three, 1973/2010
Super 8mm film transferred to video, black-and-white and color, silent
Duration: 2 minutes, 27 seconds

Charles Atlas

The Hanged One, 1997

Fifteen-channel video, mixed media, programmed lighting

Installation view, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York

Charles Atlas

The Hanged One, 1997

Fifteen-channel video, mixed media, programmed lighting

Installation view, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York

Charles Atlas

Shrine

Installation view, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York

Charles Atlas

Shrine

Installation view, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York

Charles Atlas

Martha, Martha, Martha, Martha, Martha, 2000

Five-channel synchronized video installation, sound

Duration: 20 minutes

 

Charles Atlas

Martha, Martha, Martha, Martha, Martha, 2000

Five-channel synchronized video installation, sound

Duration: 20 minutes

 

Charles Atlas
Turning Portraits, 2020
4-channel sync video installation
Duration: 6 minutes 5 seconds
 
Charles Atlas
MC9, 2012
as part of Charles Atlas and Collaborators, 2013, BMW Tate Live, The Tanks, Tate Modern
Photo: Gabrielle Fonseca Johnson for Tate Photography
Charles Atlas

The Geometry of Thought, 2019

Music Lazar Bozic featuring James K.
Charles Atlas
Tesseract ▢, 2017
Stereoscopic 3D video (two digital files)
Duration: 42 minutes
Charles Atlas
Life's A Beach, 2014/2019
Single-channel video with sound
Duration: 2 minutes, 45 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs
Charles Atlas
Mrs. Peanut Visits New York, 1992-1999
Video, sound
Duration: 6 minutes, 8 seconds
Charles Atlas
Plato's Alley, 2008
Single channel video projection (silent)
Duration: 6 minutes 40 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs
Charles Atlas
Painting by Numbers, 2011
Installation view of The Illusion of Democracy
February 18  – July 15, 2012
Luhring Augustine Bushwick, New York
Charles Atlas
143652, 2012
Installation view of The Illusion of Democracy
February 18 – July 15, 2012
Luhring Augustine Bushwick, New York
Charles Atlas
The Waning of Justice, 2015
Multi-channel video installation with sound
Duration: 23 minutes, 44 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proof
Charles Atlas
Kiss the Day Goodbye, 2015
Two-channel video installation with sound
Duration: 19 minutes, 15 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs
 
Charles Atlas
Here she is... v1, 2011
Single channel video installation with sound
Duration: 22 minutes 48 seconds
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs
 
Charles Atlas
Mayonnaise Number One, 1973
16mm film transferred to digital video, silent
Duration: 11 minutes, 8 seconds
Performer: Douglas Dunn
Charles Atlas
DANCENOISE Scraps, 2010
Video, sound
Duration: 9 minutes, 21 seconds
Charles Atlas
What Does Unstable Time Even Mean?, 2015
High-definition video, sound
Duration: 4 minutes, 37 seconds
Choreography: Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener
Music: Eric Holm
 
Charles Atlas
Teach, 1992/1998
Single-channel video projection, sound
Duration: 7 minutes, 47 seconds
Charles Atlas
99 (Johanna), 1999
Single-channel video projection, sound
Duration: 4 minutes, 55 seconds
Charles Atlas
Be Nice (Anne), 2000
Single-channel video projection, sound
Duration: 2 minutes, 50 seconds
Charles Atlas
2003, 2018
Installation view of Charles Atlas: the past is here, the futures are coming
The Kitchen, 2018
Photo: Jason Mandella
Charles Atlas
Joints 4tet for Ensemble, 1971/2011
Installation view of Discount Body Parts at De Hallen Haarlem, The Netherlands, March 16 - June 3, 2012
Charles Atlas
The Years, 2018
Installation view of Charles Atlas: the past is here, the futures are coming at The Kitchen, 2018
Photo: Jason Mandella
Charles Atlas
Glacier
Installation view
Bloomberg Space, London, 2013
Charles Atlas
Cowboy Body
Installation view at The Contemporary, Austin, 2015
Charles Atlas

Institute for Turbulence Research, 2008

Four-channel synchronized video projection

Transparent screen, VMU

Duration: 6 minutes
Charles Atlas

A Prune Twin, 2020

Installation view of Michael Clark: Cosmic Dancer, Barbican Art Gallery, UK, October 7, 2020 – January 3, 2021
Charles Atlas

Chicken Dance Joe, 2003

Video, sound

Duration: 2 minutes, 26 seconds
Charles Atlas
Aria, 1999
16mm film transferred to digital video, sound
Duration: 6 minutes, 8 seconds
Charles Atlas
Joints4tet, 2011
Four-channel projection with sound
Duration: 13 minutes
 
Charles Atlas
Nevada, 1974
Film/dance
Super-8mm film
Silent
2 minutes 53 seconds
Charles Atlas
The Grand Dance of the Jolly Three, 1973/2010
Super 8mm film transferred to video, black-and-white and color, silent
Duration: 2 minutes, 27 seconds
Charles Atlas

The Hanged One, 1997

Fifteen-channel video, mixed media, programmed lighting

Installation view, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
Charles Atlas

Shrine

Installation view, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
Charles Atlas

Martha, Martha, Martha, Martha, Martha, 2000

Five-channel synchronized video installation, sound

Duration: 20 minutes

 

Contact

For more information, please contact Lauren Wittels at lauren@luhringaugustine.com.
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