Jeff Wall
Born in 1946 · Canada
Photographic scenes at the intersection of art and cinema.
The story
Jeff Wall creates constructed images, many presented in large lightboxes. His references bring together painting, art history, cinema and observations of everyday life. He also works on paper in black and white and colour. Preparing a scene can involve considerable effort, even when the final image seems to capture an ordinary situation whose story remains open.
Understanding the work
Distinguish signs of preparation from gestures that appear spontaneous. Look at lighting and setting as elements of a narrative from which only one scene is available.
Key works and series
The Destroyed Room; A Sudden Gust of Wind (after Hokusai); illuminated scenes.
Sources & further exploration
Works in collections.
4 recordsPhotographs to explore on museum and library websites, with titles, dates and processes. Each link opens the collection record and its image where one is available.
- MoMA · 1999-2000
After "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison, the Prologue
Silver dye bleach transparency; aluminum light box
