Vik Muniz
Vik Muniz (1961, São Paulo, Brazil). Lives and works in New York.
Muniz began his artistic career as a sculptor, but later shifted his focus to graphic arts and photography. Inspired by the work of postmodernists Cindy Sherman and Jeff Koons, Muniz uses popular images in his works and presents them in a new way, thus demonstrating one of the fundamental ideas of contemporary art: the primacy of concept over uniqueness of visual context.
Experimenting with a wide range of non-traditional materials (dry pigments, dust, sugar, chocolate, diamonds, caviar, children’s toys, garbage, scraps of magazines), Muniz reproduces the works of famous artists, creating short-lived copies of iconic pieces of art. Artist captures the results of his work in series of high-resolution photographs, rediscovering the masterpieces of Van Gogh, Picasso, Malevich, Klimt, Mondrian and Matisse.
Muniz not only acquaints the viewer with the phenomenon of appropriation in photography, but also with the idea of using new techniques in creating works of art, raising the question of the primacy of an idea and the various forms of expression. He calls himself “an observer of the skirmish between structuralist and poststructuralist criticism”.
Muniz is convinced that art should change the world for the better and should not be elitist at all. He seeks to make it more accessible. Through the implementation of unexpected techniques and thoughtful visual puns, his works capture the interest of any viewer, from connoisseurs of museum classics to a younger audience. The apparent ease of presentation of complex images turns his work into a kind of conduit to a new world of art and technology, inextricably linked to the achievements of early master artists and art history in general.
The works by Vik Muniz have been presented in collections of such museums as:
The Victoria and Albert Museum London, UK
Tate London, UK
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, USA
The Guggenheim Museum, New York, USA
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
The Whitney Museum of American Art New York, USA
The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, USA
The Art Institute of Chicago, USA
The Menil Collection Museum, Houston, USA
The Museum of Contemporary Art in São Paulo, Brazil
The Museum of Modern Art, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome (MACRO), Rome, Italy
The Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, Ireland
The Joan Miró Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
The Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, Israel
The Long Museum, Shanghai, China
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, Japan
Vik Muniz
Lengiz!, after Rodchenko
2007
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
Small size: 122 x 172.7 cm
Large size: 180 x 256.5 cm
Edition: 6+4AP
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. pp. 166 - 167
Old suckers, after Rodchenko
2004
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
Small size: 180 x 122 cm
Large size: 267 x 180 cm
Edition: 6+4AP
Exhibition
Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 171
Pro Eto, after Rodchenko
2007
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
Small size: 185.4 x 122 cm
Large size: 274.3 x 180 cm
Edition: 6+4AP
Exhibitions
Dada Fest. NCCA. June 2016
Summa Summarum. NCCA. Jan - Feb 2010 (Small size)
Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 169
Conversation with the Finance Inspector about Poetry, after Rodchenko
2007
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
Small size: 165 x 122 cm
Large size: 244 x 180 cm
Edition: 6+4AP
Exhibitions
Dada Fest. NCCA. June 2016
Summa Summarum. NCCA. Jan - Feb 2010 (Small size)
Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 165
Suprematist composition: white on white, after Kazimir Malevich
2007
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
Small size: 122 x 122 cm
Large size: 180 x 180 cm
Edition: 6+4AP
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. pp. 177
Suprematist composition: eight red rectangles, after Kazimir Malevich
2007
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
Small size: 142.2 x 122 cm
Large size: 213.4 x 180 cm
Edition: 6+4AP
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 173
Portrait of a boy in painted shirt, after Ilya Mashkov
2007
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
Small size: 160 x 122 cm
Large size: 241 x 180 cm
Edition: 6+4AP
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. pp. 161
Demon, after Vrubel (Pictures of Pigment)
2007
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
Small size: 122 x 216 cm
Large size: 167.6 x 302.3 cm
Edition: 6+4AP
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. pp. 162 - 163
The Apotheosis of war, after Vereshchagin (Pictures of Pigment)
2007
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
Small size: 122 x 188 cm
Large size: 180 x 282 cm
Edition: 6+4AP
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. pp. 158 - 159
Flowers in blue and white vase, after Chardin. «Pictures of magazines».
2011
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
228.6 x 183 cm
Exhibition:
Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007
Catalogue:
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 99
Hercules and Omphale, after Francois Lemoyne. (Pictures of junk).
2007
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
228.6 x 183 cm
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography. Nov - Dec 2007
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 141
Apollo and the Cumaean Sibyl, after Giovanni Domenico Cerrini. (Pictures of junk).
2007
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
Diptych: 261.6 x 180.3 cm each part
Exhibitions
Price of Oil. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. 20 Jan - 15 Apr 2009
Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography. Nov - Dec 2007
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 146
Karl Marx
2004
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
152.4 x 122 cm
Exhibitions
Persona Grata. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. 26 Feb - 21 Apr 2010
Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 134
Mayakowsky, after Rodchenko (Pictures of Caviar)
2005
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
Large: 180.3 x 122 cm
Small: 114.3 x 76.2 cm
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography. Nov - Dec 2007
Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 135
Medea about to kill her children, after Eugene Delacroix. (Pictures of junk).
2007
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
241.3 x 180.3 cm
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography. Nov - Dec 2007
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 140
Minotaur, after George Frederick Watts. «Pictures of junk».
2006
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
218.4 x 180.3 cm
Atalanta and Hippomenes, after Guido Reni – Diptych. (Pictures of junk).
2006
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
Diptych 236.2 x 180.3 cm - each part
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007
Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. pp. 144 - 145
Mill in sunlight, after Piet Mondrian
2007
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
246.4 x 180.3 cm
Exhibitions
“Vik Muniz” One man show. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June 8 - Sep 8 2018
Boy with a pipe, after Picasso (Pictures of Pigment)
2006
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
223.5 x 180.3 cm
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography. Nov - Dec 2007
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 111
Harmony in red, after Matisse (Pictures of Pigment)
2005
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
Large: 180.3 x 228.6 cm
Small: 101.6 x 127 cm
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Oct ‘07 - Feb ‘08
Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography. Nov - Dec 2007
Create Your Own Museum. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Jan - Feb ‘07
Publications
Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: 2008, page 108.
Create your own museum. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2006. pp. 92 - 93
Nasturismus, after Fantin Latour. «Pictures of magazines».
2004
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
287 x 193 cm
Exhibitions
We can do it! Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Jan - May 2005
Publications
We can do it! Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2005, page 47
Water lilies, after Monet. (Pictures of magazines).
2004
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
188 x 183 cm
Exhibitions
We can do it! Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Jan - May 2005
Publications
We can do it! Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2005. page 45
Olive trees with yellow Sky and Sun, after Van Gogh
2005
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
180.4 x 228.6 cm
Still life with a Bouquet of Fruits, after Caravaggio. (Pictures of magazines)
2006
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
183 x 231.14 cm
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography. Nov - Dec 2007
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 100
Atlas, after Giovanni Francesco Barbieri. (Pictures of junk).
2007
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
228.6 x 182.88 cm
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007
Bouquet, after Henri Matisse. (Pictures of magazines).
2005
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
254 x 183 cm
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 98
Study of clouds at Hampstead, after John Constable. (Pictures of magazines).
2005
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
183 x 221 cm
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Vulcan forges Cupid's arrows, after Alessandro Tiariani. (Pictures of junk).
2004
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
231.4 x 180.3 cm
Diana and Endymion, after Francesco Mola. «Pictures of junk».
2007
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
228.6 x 180.3 cm
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography. Nov - Dec 2007
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 142
The Education of Cupid, after Correggio. (Pictures of junk).
2004
Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
246.38 x 180.34 cm
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography. Nov - Dec 2007
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. June - Oct 2018
Publications
Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 143
Don Quixote in his Study, after William Lake Price
Framed chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
228,6 x 183 cm
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007
We can do it!, Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Jan - May 2005
Publications
Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2008. page 120
We can do it! Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2005. page 41 - 43
Still Life with Fruit and Vegetables, after Juan Sanchez Cotan
2004
Framed chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
Exhibitions
Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Publications
Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. 2008. page 101