William S. Burroughs

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Biography

Burroughs was an American novelist, essayist, social critic, painter and spoken word performer. Much of Burroughs’ work is semi-autobiographical, drawn from his experiences as an opiate addict, a condition which marked the last forty years of his life.

William S. Burroughs

Biography

Burroughs was an American novelist, essayist, social critic, painter and spoken word performer. Much of Burroughs’ work is semi-autobiographical, drawn from his experiences as an opiate addict, a condition which marked the last forty years of his life. He is a primary member of the Beat Generation, and regarded as an avant-garde author who affected popular culture as well as literature. In 1984, he was elected to the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.

In his fine art works, as well as his writing style, “cut-ups” and scrapbook collages, Burroughs visualizes the unconscious, embraces chance, and recognizes new networks of association, contrary to relying upon traditional linear narrative or logical representation. He collaborated and shared ideas with such artists as Bryon Gysin, Robert Rauschenbertg, Keith Haring, and George Condo.

Exhibitions

2016

“FOR THE DANGER OF DEATH SPREADS HIS WINGS”, Semiose, Paris

2013

“All Out of Time and into Space”, October Gallery, London

2012

“the name is BURROUGHS – Expanded Media” – ZKM / Museum of Contemporary Art, Karlsruhe, Germany

2009

“The Sky Is Thin As Paper Here”, Stellan Holm Gallery, NYC

2008

“Cinema Zero: Bendover/Hangover”, White Flag Projects, St. Louis, MO

2008

“Burroughs Live”, Royal Academy of Arts, London

2005

Riflemaker Gallery, London: “The Unseen Art of William S. Burroughs”

1997

Pat Hearn Gallery; New York City, NY: “Collaborations with George Condo”

1996

Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Los Angeles, CA (Retrospecitve – including “The Seven Deadly Sins)
Webb Gallery; Waxahachie, TX
Robert Berman Gallery; Santa Monica, CA
Spencer Museum of Art; University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS (Retrospective – including “The Seven Deadly Sins”)
El Dorado/David Levik Gallery; Kansas City, MO
Zola Cafe, Westport; Kansas City, KS

1995

Terrain Gallery; San Francisco, CA
Washington University Gallery of Art; St. Louis, MO: “The Seven Deadly Sins”
Kunsthallen Brandts Klaedefabrik; Odense, Denmark: “The Seven Deadly Sins””

1994

Ulrich Museum of Art; Wichita, KS

1993

The October Galleries; London, United Kingdom
Galeria Sephira; Madrid, Spain
Galerie Carzaniga & Ueker; Basel, Switzerland: “The Seven Deadly Sins”
Gagosian Gallery; New York City, NY: “The Seven Deadly Sins”
The Writer’s Place, Kansas City, MO: “The Seven Deadly Sins”

1992

Artists en Masse, Lawrence, KS: “The Seven Deadly Sins”
The October Galleries; London, United Kingdom: “The Seven Deadly Sins”
Nautilus Foundation; Lloyd, FL: “The Seven Deadly Sins”
Hokin Gallery; Bay Harbor Islands, FL: “The Seven Deadly Sins”
Earl McGrath Gallery; Los Angeles, CA: “The Seven Deadly Sins”
Mincher-Wilcox Gallery; San Francisco, CA: “The Seven Deadly Sins”
George Mulder Fine Arts; Amsterdam, the Netherlands: “The Seven Deadly Sins”
Galerie Kunst Parterre; Viersen, Germany: “The Seven Deadly Sins”
Atelier Marconi Gallery; Turin, Italy
Transit Gallery; Bergamo, Italy

1991

Vanguardia Galeria de Arte; Bilbao, Spain
Galerie Carzaniga & Ueker; Basel, Switzerland
Galerie K; Amsterdam, the Netherlands

1990

Galerie Waschsalon; Frankfurt, Germany
Galerie K; Paris, France
The Seed Hall/Seibu Shibuya; Tokyo, Japan
Akarenga Hall/Seibu Shibuya; Sapporo, Japan
Earl McGrath Gallery; Los Angeles, CA
Deutsch-Amerikanische Institut; Tubingen, Germany
Galeria Sephira; Madrid, Spain

1989

Cold City Gallery; Toronto, Canada
Elliot Smith Gallery; St. Louis, MO
Galerie Carzaniga & Ueker; Basel, Switzerland
Cleto Polcina Artemoderna; Rome, Italy
Kellas Gallery; Lawrence, KS
Galeria Emi Valentim de Carvalho; Lisbon, Portugal
Galerie Oboro & Atelier Roger Bellemare; Montreal, Canada