Charles Atlas: About Time

Scintillating and significant, Atlas’ genre-defying, collaborative video art is on full display in this extensive survey

Published with Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston.

American artist Charles Atlas (born 1949) is a leading figure in film and video art known for his pioneering work at the intersections of moving image, dance and performance. Alongside the artist’s first retrospective, About Time surveys 50 years of groundbreaking work through immersive multichannel video installations Atlas describes as “walk-through experiences.” These monumental installations reimagine his collaborations with artists such as Marina Abramovic, Michael Clark, Merce Cunningham and Yvonne Rainer in dynamic new spatial configurations. Taking in themes of performance and portraiture, gender and sexuality, and collaboration and friendship, About Time presents significant new scholarship on the artist’s work and legacy from some of today’s leading voices, foregrounding a diverse group of artists reflecting on Atlas’ influence.