Artists/Wade Guyton

Fast Facts

Innovator of Digital Printing

Wade Guyton revolutionizes the use of inkjet printers by creating artworks that challenge traditional painting techniques. He is known for his unconventional method of feeding linen or canvas through inkjet printers, embracing the incidental marks and errors as integral parts of his artwork.

Accidental Aesthetics

Guyton's art is characterized by the embrace of accidents and imperfections that occur during the printing process. Smudges, streaks, and misalignments caused by manually feeding materials through printers become distinctive features of his work, highlighting the unpredictability of technology.

Repetition and Seriality

He frequently employs repetition of symbols and motifs, such as the letter "X" and images of flames, across various pieces. This approach explores themes of duplication, originality, and the impact of digital technologies on the reproduction of images.

Interrogation of Materiality

Through his unique process, Guyton interrogates the materiality of both the digital image and its physical substrate. His work blurs the lines between digital media and traditional painting, questioning the nature of art in the digital age.

Engagement with Art History

Despite his forward-looking use of technology, Guyton's work is deeply engaged with the history of art. He references and reinterprets traditional artistic motifs and practices, situating his work within a broader historical context while simultaneously pushing its boundaries.

Minimalist Aesthetic with Depth

At first glance, Guyton's pieces might seem simple due to their minimalistic use of color and form. However, they possess a conceptual depth that challenges viewers to reconsider the relationship between the method of creation and the final artwork, especially in the context of digital and mechanical reproduction.

Biography

Wade Guyton is a distinguished figure in the contemporary art world, renowned for his innovative approach to painting that integrates digital technologies.

Born in 1972 in Hammond, Indiana, Guyton has reshaped the landscape of modern art by challenging traditional techniques and mediums. His signature method involves running linen canvases through inkjet printers, embracing the glitches and imperfections that arise from this process. These perceived flaws become unique features of his work, distinguishing each piece with recurrent motifs such as geometric stripes, circles, flames, and the letters 'U' and 'X'. Guyton's exploration extends beyond canvases to incorporate modern digital elements like screenshots and camera phone snapshots, reflecting on the relationship between technology and art.

Guyton's collaboration with fellow artist Kelley Walker under the name Guyton\Walker since 2004 is a testament to his penchant for innovation. Together, they create vibrant, layered images on three-dimensional objects, integrating elements of consumer culture and advertising. This partnership highlights Guyton's interest in the interaction between digital imagery and physical objects, a theme that permeates much of his work.

He has been honored with several prestigious awards throughout his career, including the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Art (2014) and the Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists Award (2004). These accolades acknowledge his contributions to the art world and his role in advancing contemporary artistic practices.

Guyton has held major mid-career solo shows at significant institutions worldwide, such as the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, the Serpentine Gallery in London, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. His works are held in numerous esteemed collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Despite the commercial success of his works, Guyton has openly expressed his discomfort with the art market's valuation of art, reflecting on the impact of financial considerations on artistic integrity. (Wikipedia) (Ocula Art).

Series

Importance

Wade Guyton's significance in the contemporary art landscape is multifaceted, encompassing his innovative techniques, influential thematic explorations, and contributions to the discourse of digital and print media within art.

Innovator of Digital and Print Media in Art

Guyton is renowned for his groundbreaking use of digital technologies, particularly inkjet printers, as a means of creating art. By running linen canvases through these printers, he embraces and incorporates the inherent glitches and imperfections into his work. This process challenges traditional painting techniques and questions the role of the artist's hand in the digital age.

Contributions to the Dialogue on Contemporary Art

Guyton's work stands at the forefront of discussions about the intersection of technology and art. Through his use of common digital symbols, such as the letters 'X' and 'U', and incorporation of screenshots and digital imagery, he reflects on how digital media shapes our perception of art and culture. His approach offers a critical examination of the reproduction and dissemination of images in the digital era.

Reinterpretation of Abstract and Minimalist Traditions

Guyton is part of a generation of artists revisiting and redefining late Modernist approaches to art, particularly abstraction and minimalism, through the lens of 21st-century digital technology. His work, while abstract and minimalist in nature, is deeply infused with the technological processes that define its creation, offering a contemporary take on these artistic movements.

Influential Collaborations and Collective Projects

Collaborating with artists like Kelley Walker and operating the Leopard Press, Guyton has contributed significantly to the collective and collaborative aspects of art-making. These partnerships have explored the boundaries between individual and shared artistic production, as well as the impact of digital and print media on contemporary art.

Critical Engagement with the Art Market

Guyton's works, which have garnered significant attention in the art market, also serve as a commentary on the commercial aspects of the art world. His response to the auctioning of his works for high prices, by producing multiple copies to question their value, highlights his critical stance on the commodification of art.

Extensive Exhibition History and Collection Presence

With solo shows at major institutions like the Whitney Museum of American Art and inclusion in significant public and private collections worldwide, Guyton's impact on the field is indisputable. His works resonate with a broad audience and continue to influence contemporary artistic practices and dialogues.

Recognition and Awards

Guyton's receipt of prestigious awards and grants underscores his contributions to contemporary art. These accolades reflect the art community's acknowledgment of his innovative techniques and critical exploration of digital media's role in art.

Technique

Wade Guyton's artistic technique is characterized by a unique fusion of digital processes and traditional art forms, representing a pioneering approach to contemporary art creation.

Use of Inkjet Printers on Linen

At the core of Guyton's practice is his innovative use of commercial inkjet printers to apply imagery directly onto linen. This process, which involves running the fabric through the printer multiple times, embraces the incidental marks, streaks, and misalignments that occur, integrating these "errors" as integral components of the final artwork. This method challenges traditional painting techniques by introducing a mechanical process into the creation of art, thereby questioning the role of the artist's hand in the era of digital reproduction.

Digital Imagery and Typography as Subject Matter

Guyton frequently utilizes digital icons, such as the letters 'X' and 'U', geometric shapes, and screenshots from websites, as the primary imagery in his work. These symbols, chosen for their ubiquity in digital culture, are transformed through repetition, scale, and context, acquiring new meanings and questioning the relationship between digital information and physical space.

Exploration of Materiality and Medium

Despite employing digital printing technology, Guyton's work is deeply engaged with the materiality of painting. The texture of the linen, the physicality of the ink, and the interaction between the medium and the substrate play crucial roles in the outcome of each piece. This focus on materiality brings his work into dialogue with traditional painting, even as it diverges from it in method and execution.

Collaborative Processes

Guyton's technique also extends into collaborative realms, particularly in his projects with Kelley Walker and other artists. These collaborations often explore the extension of his printing techniques onto other media and objects, such as sculptures, installations, and three-dimensional canvases, further blurring the lines between different art forms.

Critical Engagement with Reproduction and Distribution

A key aspect of Guyton's technique is his critical stance on the reproduction and distribution of artworks in the digital age. By deliberately reproducing his own works and disseminating them online, Guyton engages in a critique of the uniqueness and authenticity of art objects, challenging traditional notions of value and originality in the art market.

Integration of Biographical and Studio Elements

In his more recent works, Guyton has begun to incorporate elements drawn directly from his personal and studio environment, including photographs of his studio space and objects within it. This shift marks a deeper exploration of the relationship between the digital and the personal, the public and the private, in the creation of art.

Themes

Digital Technology and Reproduction

Wade Guyton's engagement with digital technology and reproduction in his art marks a significant exploration of our contemporary digital landscape. By pioneering the use of common digital technologies such as desktop computers, scanners, and inkjet printers, Guyton investigates our evolving relationship with images and artworks. His innovative approach often involves the "misuse" of these technologies to create artworks that question and expand the boundaries of traditional art-making methods.

Guyton's process is deeply intertwined with the digital age, characterized by a fascination with the effects of reproduction and the transformation of digital images into physical objects. For example, in some of his works, he transforms digital interfaces, like that of the New York Times, into tangible canvases, bringing the ephemeral nature of digital news into the physical realm. This transformation is not just a reproduction but an elevation of digital content into the sphere of fine art, challenging our perceptions of what art can be in the digital age.

The colors and forms in Guyton's work are often the result of a combination of algorithmic processes and manual interventions, showcasing a blend of intentionality and chance. This blend highlights the unpredictability and imperfections inherent in digital and physical mediums, creating a unique aesthetic that reflects the complexities of modern digital experiences.

Guyton's methodology involves a cycle of creation and re-creation, where images are continually processed and reprocessed, introducing a dynamic element of surprise and discovery. His approach documents the interplay between digital chaos and the quest for order, bridging the gap between modernist aesthetics and contemporary digital practices.

Wade Guyton's work represents a critical inquiry into the digital age, using technology not just as a tool but as a subject of artistic exploration. His work invites viewers to reconsider the nature of images and artworks in the context of digital culture, posing questions about authenticity, reproduction, and the aesthetic potential of digital media. (Whitney Museum of American Art) (Daily Art News).

Interrogation of Painting

Wade Guyton's approach to painting represents a deep interrogation of the medium within the context of the digital era. By merging traditional elements of painting with advanced digital technologies, Guyton has redefined what it means to create a painting in the 21st century. His use of industrial inkjet printers to transfer digital designs onto linen canvases blurs the lines between digital production and traditional painting, challenging preconceived notions of art making.

Since the early 2000s, Guyton has been exploring the effects of digital image production on abstract painting, employing common digital tools like desktop computers, scanners, and printers in unconventional ways. For instance, his compositions, though designed on a screen, are materialized through the physical act of printing, deliberately incorporating errors and imperfections. This process highlights the random and often unpredictable nature of digital technology when applied to traditional artistic mediums, adding a layer of complexity and uniqueness to each piece (Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris).

Guyton is part of a group of contemporary artists who critically examine the intersections of appropriation art, abstract art, and late Modernism through the lens of digital technology. This cohort is seen as reevaluating and expanding upon the legacies of these movements, reflecting on how digital advancements have transformed our interaction with visual culture. Guyton's work, in particular, showcases a continuous engagement with the fundamental principles of painting while simultaneously pushing its boundaries through digital interventions. This dual exploration serves not only to critique but also to celebrate the evolving nature of art in response to technological progression (Wikipedia).

His collaborations and exhibitions further solidify his position as a leading figure in the conversation around digital technology's impact on art. By constantly experimenting with and reflecting on the process of making art in the digital age, Guyton's work invites viewers to reconsider the essence and possibilities of painting today. Through his innovative practices, Guyton not only questions the traditional parameters of painting but also offers a fresh perspective on its future direction in the digital age.

Themes of Obsolescence and Time

Wade Guyton's exploration of themes of obsolescence and time in his art reveals a profound engagement with the transient nature of digital media and technology. His work, marked by the use of inkjet printers, scanners, and digital files, not only interrogates the process of art-making in the digital era but also reflects on the ephemeral and often fleeting aspects of digital culture itself.

Guyton's artistic practice is characterized by a continuous feedback loop of forms and references, where ad hoc decisions and makeshift solutions often lead to the creation of new works. An example of this is his transformation of a found deformed chair by Marcel Breuer into a sculpture, a process that Guyton repeated over the years, blurring the lines between performance and object creation. This approach underscores the artist's interest in the performance aspect of art-making, where the act of creation itself becomes a significant part of the artwork (IGNANT).

His exhibition setups further emphasize themes of temporality and obsolescence. For instance, at the Museum Ludwig, Guyton created installations that veiled large printers and other materials in fabric, turning a practical solution into an integral part of the exhibition. These installations serve not just as displays but as narrative spaces that carry anecdotes and histories, adding layers of meaning to the physical objects presented. Guyton's use of items like chairs from the bankrupt Enron Corporation, initially intended to be twisted into sculptures, eventually left as they were, further highlights his exploration of obsolescence and the passage of time through material culture (IGNANT).

Moreover, Guyton's New York Times paintings, which capture specific moments in time such as political events, reflect on the broader universal themes and collective experiences embedded in our daily engagement with digital media. These works freeze time, juxtaposing the fleeting nature of digital news with the permanence of painting, inviting viewers to consider the impact of digital technology on our perception of time and history (IGNANT).

In sum, Wade Guyton's work offers a nuanced examination of how digital technology shapes our relationship with art, objects, and the broader cultural landscape. By embracing the imperfections and transient qualities of digital media, Guyton's oeuvre not only challenges traditional notions of art-making but also prompts reflection on the complexities and uncertainties of contemporary life. His innovative approach, as highlighted in various exhibitions and collaborations, situates him as a pivotal figure in contemporary art, navigating the intersections of digital culture, obsolescence, and artistic expression (Wikipedia).

Architectural and Spatial Elements

Wade Guyton's exploration of architectural and spatial elements in his art significantly challenges traditional perceptions of space within the realm of painting and sculpture. His unique approach to creating artworks involves adapting to the architectural peculiarities of exhibition spaces, allowing the architecture itself to influence the form and presentation of his works. For instance, during his exhibitions, Guyton has manipulated the floor layout to mirror the specific dimensions and characteristics of the hosting room, such as transforming the floor into shapes that conform to the room's contours—whether it be a square, a rectangle, or a more complex polygon. This method showcases his interest in how artworks interact with and are influenced by their surrounding environment, emphasizing a fluid relationship between the artwork and the space it occupies (On Curating).

Guyton's installations often incorporate elements that carry autobiographical significance or reflect on broader cultural and societal themes. One recurring object in his exhibitions is a deformed chair by Marcel Breuer, which Guyton found and transformed into a sculpture, signifying the interplay between art, object, and performance. His exhibitions not only feature his large-scale inkjet prints but also include sculptural works and display cases, creating a comprehensive environment that engages viewers in a dialogue with the space and the artworks themselves. This engagement is further exemplified by his innovative use of materials and objects, such as covering up production materials with fabric due to logistical constraints, thus integrating these elements into the overall aesthetic and narrative of the show (IGNANT).

Through these practices, Guyton transcends conventional boundaries between painting, sculpture, and architectural design, challenging viewers to reconsider the relationship between art and space. His work serves as a dynamic exploration of how art adapts to and converses with its environment, highlighting the transformative potential of space in shaping the experience and interpretation of artworks. Guyton's approach reflects a broader trend in contemporary art toward the integration of architectural elements, emphasizing the importance of context and environment in the creation and reception of art (Whitney Museum of American Art) (On Curating).

Personal and Historical Narrative

Wade Guyton's art is deeply entwined with both personal and historical narratives, providing a rich context for his innovative works. His exhibitions are not just a showcase of art; they are thematic explorations that often eschew chronological order for a more nuanced, interconnected presentation. This approach allows Guyton to weave together various conceptual threads, creating thematic narratives that engage with broader, more universal themes and collective experiences. For instance, his decision to theme exhibitions around concepts such as "Siamo Arrivati" or "Natural Wine" reflects not only literal inspirations but also captures the atmosphere in the studio and in New York at the time of creation. These titles, while seemingly straightforward, hold deeper connections to current events, cultural shifts, or personal experiences, showcasing how the personal and the global can intersect in art (Numéro Magazine).

Guyton's use of digital technology and his relationship with machines further emphasize the dialogue between his personal creative process and the broader technological and social landscape. He views the technology he employs as an extension of everyday physicality, reflecting a commonality shared with his audience. This integration of technology is not just about exploring new artistic frontiers but also about examining the increasingly digital texture of our lives. Whether it's through the spontaneous use of AirDrop or the intentional misuses of inkjet printers, Guyton's work interrogates the boundary between the digital and the physical, the personal and the universal (Numéro Magazine).

Moreover, his exhibitions often include elements that suggest autobiographical clues, from the reuse of found objects to the integration of studio environments into gallery spaces. These aspects of his work suggest a broader narrative, one that is deeply personal but also reflective of wider societal and cultural dynamics. This is particularly evident in his "internet paintings," like those featuring printed screenshots of the New York Times online edition, which freeze moments in time and juxtapose the ephemeral nature of digital media against the permanence of the painting medium. These works not only document specific historical moments but also engage with the changing ways we interact with information, art, and each other in the digital age (IGNANT).

Wade Guyton's exploration of personal and historical narratives through his art provides a compelling commentary on the interplay between individual experiences and broader cultural and technological trends. His innovative use of technology, thematic exhibition strategies, and incorporation of autobiographical elements all serve to deepen our understanding of contemporary art's role in reflecting and shaping the world around us.

Chronology

2000s
2000s
2010s
2010s