Robert Irwin (1928–2023) was one of the most eminent and influential post-war American artists, who, over the course of six decades, developed and refined what he terms “conditional” or “site-conditioned” art. His practice, which is often associated with the California-based Light and Space movement, encompassed painting and sculpture, installations, landscape projects, and interventions in public space. His actual medium was the viewer’s perception itself. The artist’s works dissolve conventional modes of reception to enable new forms of individual experience and an awareness of the aesthetic potential of our everyday surroundings.
John Baldessari, Throwing three balls in the air to get a straight line (best of thirty-six attempts), 1973
© 1973–2026 John Baldessari Family Foundation. Courtesy Estate of John Baldessari
© 1973–2026 John Baldessari Family Foundation. Courtesy Estate of John Baldessari
Mindset Los Angeles – Frank Gehry and the Cool School
Group Exhibition
Marta Herford, Herford, Germany
June 27, 2026–January 10, 2027
Architect Frank Gehry’s thinking and work are closely linked to the influence of Los Angeles and its art scene. This comprehensive exhibition explores Gehry’s early artistic influences, which led to his revolutionary approach to rethinking architecture. The free-spirited environment surrounding the “Cool School” group, which established itself in Los Angeles from the late 1950s onward, was a melting pot of artistic (material) experiments, shaped by Beat literature. In this vibrant network on the California coast, an inspiring cross-disciplinary dialogue between art and architecture developed.
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