Marina Abramović on May 6, 2025 | UCSB Arts & Lectures

“The impact that Abramović has had on the contemporary-art scene cannot be underestimated.” Harper’s Bazaar

“By using the body as her medium, Abramović shows just how close art can get to life.” The Guardian (U.K.)

Renowned conceptual artist Marina Abramović has pushed the boundaries of contemporary art, not just within performance art but across the entire spectrum of the art world. Since the 1970s, her cutting-edge work has explored the body, endurance, the relationship between the performer and audience, and the possibilities of the mind. Her iconic performances include The Artist Is Present, the MOMA retrospective which sparked an HBO documentary as well as collaborations with such pop icons as Jay-Z and Lady Gaga. “Her life, performances, body art, controversial experiments and celebrity status all contribute to a larger narrative that could be considered one grand piece of art, curated by Abramović herself” (Widewalls).