The emergence of installation artists has certainly changed the face of art. Involving the configuration of objects in a space, installation art presents a unified experience practiced by an increasing number of postmodern artists. Even though sometimes temporary, installation art draws the viewer in — engaging them in multiple ways and making them feel part of the artwork. In this manner, art becomes something you can touch, hear, feel, or even smell. These works are displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces. The term “installation art” can be thought of as an umbrella term for 3D works that aim to transform the audience’s perception of space. It is believed that installation art developed primarily in the second half of the 20th century as both minimalism and conceptual art evolved. This article explores artists who have made unique contributions to installation art and how it can be defined.
Yayoi Kusama
Instantly recognizable and immensely iconic, Yayoi Kusama’s series of Infinity Rooms has captured audiences since 1965. Using mirrors as walls, she translated the repetition of her earlier artworks into immersive installations — seemingly endless rooms carpeted with polka-dotted phallic structures. Since 1965, Kusama has created over 20 distinct Infinity Mirror Rooms. By tapping into the magic of mirrors, her work tricks the senses and creates poetic environments that provoke existential contemplation.
Judy Chicago
A monument to women’s history, artist and feminist writer Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party installation features a massive triangular banquet table with 39 place settings — 13 on each side, representing the number present at a traditional witches’ coven. Each setting is personalized to honor a historical or mythical female figure, including artists, goddesses, academics, and activists. The floor beneath the table lists an additional 999 women, their names inscribed in gold on white tile. Created with the help of over 400 volunteers, the installation now resides permanently in the Brooklyn Museum’s Center for Feminist Art.
Jason Rhoades
Beginning in 1994, Los Angeles–based artist Jason Rhoades became known for his unconventional installations. His first major work was composed of mundane items like cardboard, wood, and Styrofoam — all painted yellow — arranged to reflect the cultural and geographical landscape of Los Angeles. Throughout his career, Rhoades continued to push social boundaries and challenge the conventions of public decency through his art.
Allan Kaprow
American artist Allan Kaprow’s Yard (1961) marked a new era in art history. He filled the backyard of New York’s Martha Jackson Gallery with black rubber auto tires and tarpaper-wrapped forms, inviting visitors to climb, jump, and play among them. This interactive installation blurred the line between art and everyday life, introducing improvisation and group participation. As Kaprow once said, “Life is much more interesting than art. The line between art and life should be kept as fluid, and perhaps indistinct, as possible.”
Cornelia Parker
British artist Cornelia Parker’s Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View (1991) remains one of the most memorable installation artworks of recent decades. To create it, Parker filled an old shed with domestic items such as toys and tools, then had the British Army blow it up. She collected the fragments and suspended them mid-air, frozen in time. Under dramatic lighting, these once-familiar objects became abstract, haunting forms. The title, “Cold Dark Matter,” references unmeasured elements of the universe, adding a poetic sense of mystery to the piece.
Olafur Eliasson
Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson’s ambitious installation The Weather Project (2003) transformed Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall into a surreal environment that replicated a giant sun shining through mist. Low-frequency lamps cast a golden glow across the space, while mirrored ceiling panels completed the illusion of a full sun and reflected visitors as if floating in the sky. This immersive experience blurred the boundary between nature and illusion, light and perception.
Observing the works of these pioneering artists, we can see that installation art continues to be one of the most dominant forms of contemporary expression. With advancing technologies, more artists are now exploring interactive digital installations — opening new doors and making this art form more relevant than ever before.
Manesha Peiris (2022)
