Daniel Arsham

Daniel Arsham is an American artist known for his unique blend of art, architecture, and design, often exploring themes of time, decay and the relationship between the past and the future. Born in 1980 in Cleveland, Ohio, Arsham grew up in Miami, Florida and attended the Cooper Union in New York City. His work spans sculpture, installation, painting and film.

Arsham’s practice is, in some ways, an exploration of ‘fictional archaeology’, where he reimagines everyday objects as eroded artifacts from a distant future. His sculptures often feature objects like backpacks, basketballs, cameras and telephones, which appear to be partially buried in crystal formations, suggesting decay but at the same time, preservation of contemporary life.

Beyond the mundane, Arsham is also interested in the same aesthetic treatment for iconic pop culture symbols such as beloved characters from the Japanese media franchise Pokémon and from the American animated franchise Looney Tunes as well as mass media like copies of Rolling Stone magazines.

Arsham’s distinctive aesthetic has attracted many notable collaborations with luxury brands like Dior, where Arsham was invited by in 2005 to incorporate his signature plaster erosions in the fitting rooms of their Los Angeles shop and in 2019 to collaborate for their menswear Spring/Summer 2020 show. Other collaborations included the luxury luggage brand Rimowa, collectible designer toys Bearbrick, and artist Hajime Sorayama.

Arsham’s work has been exhibited globally, and his ability to merge art with commercial and popular culture has made him a prominent figure in the contemporary art scene. Through his sculptures and installations, artist Daniel Arsham continues to push the boundaries of how art interacts with time, history and the everyday objects that define our lives.