Walter De Maria
American, born 1935
He earned an M.A. in art at the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied with Bay Area artist David Park. He also developed a friendship with the musician and performance artist, La Monte Young who influenced De Maria to incorporate Zen Buddhist concepts such as the temporary nature of structure, chance decisions, and performance as an event. De Maria and Young took part in Happenings or performance art and other theatrical productions around the Bay Area.
In 1960, De Maria moved to New York and became the drummer for the Velvet Underground music group. He also wrote art essays and took part in more Happenings and multimedia shows. In 1961, a new phase of his career developed as he began making wooden-box sculptures. He and a friend, Robert Whitman, also opened a gallery at 9 Great Jones Street in 1963, and that same year, De Maria had his first solo sculpture exhibition, and this event was held at his gallery. Wood became his favored medium, although he also began working in metal and well as composing music. In 1966, a solo exhibition of his work was held at at Cordier & Ekstrom, New York, and he participated the exhibit, Primary Structures, at the Jewish Museum, New York.
De Maria has received a number of honors including a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Mather Sculpture Prize from the Art Institute of Chicago.
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