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2010s
2010s

John Baldessari's art in the 2010s continued to explore the interplay between text, image, and concept, reflecting his longstanding engagement with language and its structural similarities to games. His work from this period is characterized by sequences and attempts at accomplishing arbitrary goals, which were rooted in his belief in the arbitrary and mandatory systems of rules both language and games operate by. This approach can be seen as a continuation of his exploration of how to communicate and challenge viewer perceptions through art​ (Wikipedia)​. One of the notable series from this decade is "Double Bill" (2012), where Baldessari paired works of two selected artists on a single canvas, altering the appropriated picture plane with his own hand-painted color additions, and then naming only one of his two artistic "collaborators" on each piece. This series continued his tradition of challenging notions of authorship and the hierarchical relationships between images​ (Wikipedia)​. Throughout the 2010s, Baldessari's innovative use of photography, such as cutting, cropping, and recontextualizing photographs, remained a central part of his practice. This method challenged viewers' visual expectations and invited them to explore the implications of altered perspectives​ (Art in Context)​. His work was characterized by a playful subversion of norms, where he took mundane objects or words and placed them within unexpected contexts to disrupt traditional associations and generate humor and intellectual inquiry​ (Art in Context)​. Baldessari's artistry in the 2010s was marked by layered narratives and fragmentation, employing visual and textual layers to construct narratives that demanded active viewer engagement. His technique mirrored the complexity of his subjects, encouraging contemplation and a deeper exploration of nuanced perspectives​ (Art in Context)​. In addition to his artistic practice, Baldessari was also celebrated for his contributions to art education, having taught at the California Institute of the Arts and the University of California, Los Angeles. His influence extended to a wide range of artists across generations, underscoring his role as a pivotal figure in the development of conceptual art​ (MoMA)​. Baldessari's work in the 2010s, and indeed throughout his career, reflects a continuous exploration of the boundaries and intersections of image, text, and concept, solidifying his legacy as a transformative figure in contemporary art.