Mel Bochner

Mel Bochner is an influential American conceptual artist known for his pioneering work in text-based art and his exploration of language, measurement, colour and perception. His innovative use of words and numbers has challenged traditional notions of art and established him as a key figure in the conceptual movement of the 1960s and beyond.

Born in 1940 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bochner studied art at Carnegie Mellon University before moving to New York City in 1964. He quickly became associated with the burgeoning conceptual art scene, alongside artists like Sol LeWitt and Robert Smithson. Bochner’s early works, such as his series ‘Measurement’ (1966–68), reflect his interest in mathematics and language. These pieces used rulers and tape measures to mark off distances and dimensions directly on the walls, transforming physical space into a visual dialogue about measurement and perception.

Bochner’s exploration of language as both subject and medium became more pronounced in the 1970s and 1980s. His ‘Thesaurus’ series juxtaposes synonyms and antonyms in vibrant colours, creating complex networks of meaning. This work laid the groundwork for his later pieces, such as the iconic ’Blah Blah Blah’, a series that features the phrase repeated in various fonts and colours, emphasising the absurdity and emptiness of overused expressions.

Bochner’s drawings and paintings have been widely exhibited, and his work is held in major collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Tate in London and Moderna Museet in Stockholm.