Nasce a Toledo, Ohio, nel 1945. Si forma al Cleveland institute of art e a New York, alla School of visual art dal 1965-67 e alla New school for social research nel biennio 71-72. Insegna alla Hochschule für bildende Künste di Amburgo e alla Staatliche Akademie der bildenden Künste di Stoccarda. Nel 1967 fonda a New York il Museum of visual art, galleria in cui presenta le prime opere di arte concettuale, di cui è considerato uno dei più significativi esponenti e teorici. Kosuth focalizza la sua ricerca sul linguaggio con un complesso approccio nel quale interagiscono filosofia, antropologia, psicanalisi e critica d'arte; mirando a rivelare visivamente la complessità dei codici culturali, lavora essenzialmente su espedienti linguistici, come la citazione, la tautologia, la traduzione, la ripetizione, la contraddizione e la negazione.

SELEZIONE ESPOSIZIONI PERSONALI:

1968

Los Angeles, Gallery 669, Nothing

1969

Pasadena, Pasadena Art Museum; Vancouver, Douglas Gallery, Joseph Kosuth: 15 locations 1969/70 (Art as Idea as Idea)

1970

Parigi, Galerie Daniel Templon, Joseph Kosuth
Torino, Galleria Sperone, Joseph Kosuth: 11 lavori dal 1965
Aarhus, Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Joseph Kosuth: The Second Investigation (Art as Idea as Idea 1968)
Copenaghen, Jysk Kunstgalerie, Joseph Kosuth: The First Investigation (Art as Idea as Idea 1968)

1971

Colonia, Galerie Paul Maenz, Joseph Kosuth
New York, Leo Castelli Gallery, Joseph Kosuth: The Eighth Investigation, Proposition 3
Milano, Galleria Toselli, Joseph Kosuth: L’Ottava Investigazione 1971 Proposizione 6
Napoli, Galleria Lia Rumma, Joseph Kosuth

1972

Roma, Galleria Sperone-Fischer, Joseph Kosuth
New York, Leo Castelli, Joseph Kosuth: Recent Work-The Ninth Investigation, Proposition 1

1973

Lucerna, Kunstmuseum Luzern (itinerante), Joseph Kosuth: Art Investigations and Problematics 1965-1973
Colonia, Galerie Paul Maenz, Joseph Kosuth: Art as Idea as Idea: 1967-68

1974

Parigi, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Joseph Kosuth: Investigations sur l’art et problematique 1965-1973

1975

New York, Leo Castelli Gallery, Joseph Kosuth: The Tenth Investigation 1974, Proposition 4
Livorno, Galleria Peccolo, Joseph Kosuth
Napoli, Galleria Lia Rumma, Joseph Kosuth

1976

Chicago, The Renaissance Society, Joseph Kosuth
Anversa, Internationaal Cultureel Centrum, Joseph Kosuth: Practice/Pratique/Praticia

1978

Oxford, Museum of Modern Art, Joseph Kosuth: Text / Context
Eindhoven, Van Abbemuseum, Joseph Kosuth: Text / Context

1979

Colonia, Galerie Paul Maenz, Joseph Kosuth: Text / Context (Koln-Munchen)
New York, Leo Castelli Gallery, Joseph Kosuth: Text / Context (New York)
Chartres, Musée de Chartres, Joseph Kosuth: Dix Descriptions Partielles

1980

New York, P.S.1., Joseph Kosuth: Ten Partial Descriptions

1981

Milano, Galleria Francoise Lambert, Joseph Kosuth: Cathexis
Stoccarda, Staatsgalerie Stuttgart; Bielefeld, Kunsthalle Bielefeld, Joseph Kosuth: Bedeutung von Bedeutung/The Making of Meaning
Ghent, Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst, Joseph Kosuth: Cathexis

1982

Tokyo, Kamakura Gallery, Joseph Kosuth
New York, Leo Castelli Gallery, Joseph Kosuth: Cathexis

1985

Lione, Musée St. Pierre, Joseph Kosuth: 2 Installations
Ginevra, centre d’Art Contemporain, Joseph Kosuth
Vienna, Galerie Peter Pakesch, Joseph Kosuth: Z. & N. (Neon)

1987

Torino, Galleria Giorgio Persano, Joseph Kosuth
Lisbona, Galeria Comicos, Joseph Kosuth: Six Recent Works
Los Angeles, Margo Leavin Gallery, Joseph Kosuth: New Works

1988

Napoli, Museo di Capodimonte, Modus Operandi: Cancellato
Barcellona, Galeria Bertsch, Joseph Kosuth: Spanish Works

1989

Milano, Galleria Giorgio Persano
Anversa, Museum van hedendaagse Kunst, Exchange of Meaning: Translation in the Work of Joseph Kosuth

1990

New York, The Brooklyn Museum, The Play of the Unmentionable [an Installation by Joseph Kosuth]

1991

Napoli, Galleria Lia Rumma, An Exhibition On, About, or Using Wittgenstein and Nietzsche

1992

Washington, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, A Play: The Herald Tribune, Kafka and a Quote
Praga, Belvedere, Podobenstvi (Ex Libris, Kafka)/ Parable (Ex Libris, Kafka)

1993

Los Angeles, Margo Leavin Gallery, Double Reading: Sllegory of Limits
New York, Leo Castelli, The Thing-in-itself is found in its Truth through the loss of its Immediacy

1994

Berlino, Kunstwerke Berlin, Berliner Chronik

1995

Como, Fondazione Ratti, Rules and Meanings
Oslo, Kunstnernes Hus, Joseph Kosuth and American Conceptualism

1997

Boston, MIT List Visual Arts Center, Re-defining the Context of Art: 1968-1997
Dublino, The Irish Museum of Modern Art, Guests and Foreigners, Rules and Meanings, A New Installation, With a Survey: 1965-1997

1999

Roma, Villa Medici, Accademia di Francia, Condizioni d’Assenza (Il nome e chi lo porta, a G)
Chiba City, Chiba City Museum of Art, Guests and Foreigners: The Years of Isolation. Including a Survey of Works 1965 1999
Napoli, Galleria Lia Rumma, Essays

2002

Figeac, Musée Champollion, Place of Writing; Five Works by Joseph Kosuth from ‘One and Three Chiars’ to ‘Ex Libris, J-F. Champollion (Figeac)’

2003

Boston, Isabella Stewart Gardner, Artist, Curator, Collector: James McNeil Whistler, Bernard Berenson

2004

Atene, The Greek-Hellenic Foundation, Guests and Foreigners, Rules and Meanings
Eindhoven, Van Abbemuseum, Joseph Kosuth: Re-defining the Context of Art

2005

Copenaghen, Nikolaj; Reykjavik, Reykjavik Art Musuem, Recognizable Differences & Andersen Self-Described

2006

Rivoli, Castello di Rivoli, Joseph Kosuth
Londra, Spruth Magers, Joseph Kosuth

2008

Madrid, La Casa Encendida, Joseph Kosuth: Al fin Crei Entender

2009

Milano, Galleria Six, Joseph Kosuth
Parigi, The Louvre, Ni apparence ni illusion (Neither Apperance Nor Illusion)

2010

Melbourne, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, (Waiting for-) Texts for Nothing’ Samuel Beckett in play

2011

Zurigo, Haus Konstruktiv, Joseph Kosuth ‘Text (Waiting for-) for Nothing’SamuelBeckett, in Play

2012

Istanbul, Kaud Gallery, The Wake (An arrangement of references with all the appearance of autonomy)
New York, Castelli Gallery, Freud, Wittgenstein, Musli

2013

Warth, Kunstmuseum Thurgau, Joseph Kosuth: Das Dasein und die Welt

2015

Mosca, MAMM, Joseph Kosuth
New York, Castelli Gallery, Made at Conception

2016

Praga, National Gallery, Joseph Kosuth, Generosity: the art of giving

Buffalo, Albright Knox art Gallery, Joseph Kosuth, Defining sculpture

2017

Melbourne, Anna Schwatz Gallery, Joseph Kosuth, A short History of my Thought

2019

Milano, Galleria Lia Rumma, Joseph Kosuth, Existential time

 

SELEZIONE ESPOSIZIONI COLLETTIVE:

1967

New York, Lannis Gallery, Non-Anthropomorphic Art by Four Young Artists

1968

New York, The American Federation of Arts, The square in art

1969

Berna, Kunsthalle, Live in your Head: When Attitudes Become Form: Works-Concepts-Processes-Situations-Information
Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art, Art by telephone
Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum, Op Losse Schroeven: Situaties en Cryptostructuren
Dusseldorf, Stadtische Kunsthalle, Prospect 69

1970

Torino, Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna, Conceptual Art, Arte Povera, Land Art
New York, Museum of Modern Art, Information

1971

Parigi, 7e Biennale de Paris
Buenos Aires, Museo de Arte Moderno, Arte de sistemas

1972

Kassel, Documenta V
Basilea, Kunstmuseum Basel, “Konzept”-Kunst

1973

Hannover, Kunstverein Hannover, Kunst aus Fotografie
Roma, Parcheggio di Villa Borghese, [Incontri Internazionali d’Arte]

1974

Chicago, Art Institute of Chicago, Idea and Image
Atlanta, High Museum of Art, The new Image

1976

New York, P.S.1., Rooms
Venezia, Biennale di Venezia

1977

Chicago, Museum of Modern Art, Words at Liberty

1978

Kassel, Documenta VI

1979

New York, Museum of Modern Art, Printed Art: A View of two Decades

1980

Dusseldorf, Stadtische Kunsthalle, Das Bild einer Geschichte 1956/1976: Die Sammlung Panza di Biumo

1982

Kassel, Documenta VII
Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum, ’60 ’80: Attitudes/Concepts/Images

1983

Tokyo – Kyoto, The National Museum of Modern Art, Photography in Contemporary Art

1984

Washington, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Content: A Contemporary Focus 1974-1984
Eindhoven, Stedelijk van Abbemuseum, L'Architecte est absent: Works from the Collection of Annick and Anton Herbert

1985

Amburgo, Hamburger Kunsthalle, Mehr Licht/More Light

1986

New York, Queens Museum, The real big picture
Ghent, Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst, Chambres d’amis

1987

New York, Whitney Musuem of Modern Art, The Whitney Biennial

1988

Bordeaux, Musée d’Art Contemporain, Art Conceptuel I
Stoccolma, Moderna Museet, Implosion: Ett Postmodern perspektiv

1989

Venezia, Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Ad Usum Dimorae
New York, Whitney Museum of American Art, Art in Place
Parigi, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, L’Art Conceptuel, Une Perspective

1990

Francoforte, Museum fur Moderne Kunst, Contemporary Art In An Urban Context

1992

Kassel, Documenta IX
Rotterdam, Witte de With, No Rocks Allowed

1993

Venezia, Biennale di Venezia
Roma, Palazzo delle Esposizioni, All Roads lead to Rome?

1994

New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Tradition of the New: Postwar Masterpieces from the Guggenheim Collection
Londra, Camdem Art Center, Symptoms of Interference, Conditions of Possibility

1995

Los Angeles, The Museum of Contemporary Art, 1965-1975: Reconsidering the Object of Art
Tokyo, Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art, Revolutionists of Contemporary Art – Arte in the ‘60s
Caracas, Museo Bellas Artes, Interveciones en el espacio

1996

Milano, Civiche Raccolte d’Arte, Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea, Omaggio a Leo Castelli. 20 Artisti a New York
Fullerton, Muchenthaler Art Center (itinerante), Monumental Propaganda

1997

Bregenz, Kunsthaus Bregenz, Kunstler Innen
Venezia, Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Sarajevo 2000

1998

Graz, Neue Galerie am Landesmuseum Joaennum, Kunst ohne Unikat/Multiples 1985-1998
Stoccolma, Liljevalchs Konsthall, Fonster at garden/Rear Window
Cairo, 7th International Cairo Biennale

1999

Sydney, Museum of Contemporary Art, Word
New York, Whitney Museum of American Art, The American Century: Art & Culture 1900-2000
New York, P.S.1., The Artist outof Work: Art & Language 1972-1981
Bordeaux, Musée d’Art Contemporain de Bordeaux; Parigi, Centre Georges Pompidou, Collections Paralleles

2001

Roma, Galleria Comunale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Le Tribuù dell’arte
Basilea, Kunsthalle Basel, Quartett August 1968 September 2000

2002

Bolzano, Museum d’Arte Moderna, Guida, Museion
Rovereto, Museo di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto, Le Stanze dell’Arte

2003

Eindhoven, Van Abbemuseum, From Brodthaers to Horn
Mannheim, Kunsthalle Mannheim, Die Neue Kunsthalle II

2004

New York, Swiss Institute, Before the End (The Last Painting Show)
New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Singular Forms (Sometimes repeated): Art From 1951 to the Present
Nizza, Musee d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain, Intra-Muros

2005

Parigi, Centre Pompidou, Big Bang
New York, Andrea Rosen Gallery, Felix Gonzalez-Torres and Joseph Kosuth
Torino, Palazzo Cavour, Il bianco e altro-artisti contemporanei al lavoro
Parigi, Palais de Tokyo, Translation: Works from the Dakis Joannou Collection

2006

Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Notations: Out of Words
Milano, Hangar Bicocca, Start @ Hangar
Francoforte, Schirn Kunsthalle, Nothing

2008

Stoccolma, Moderna Museet, Joseph Kosuth and Andy Warhol: An Exchange
Washington, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, The Panza Collection

2009

New York, Sperone Westwater, Zig-Zag
Venezia, Palazzo Fortuny, In-Finitum
Parigi, Louis Vuitton Art Center, Escritures Silencieuses

2010

Eindhoven; Vanabbermuseum, In-between Minimalism & Free Sol Lewitt, Play Van Abbe, Part 2:Time Machines
Francoforte, Museum Fur Moderne Kunst, ‘Radical, Conceptual. Positions from the MMK Collection


2011

Boston, Museum of Fine Arts, Sparkling Dialogue
Venezia, Palazzo Bembo, Personal Structures
Venezia, Biennale di Venezia

2012

Brooklyn, Brooklyn Museum, Materializing "Six Years": Lucy R. Lippard and the Emergence of Conceptual Art

2013

Venezia, Fondazione Prada, When Attitudes Become Form: Bern 1969/Venice 2013, a cura di Germano Celant

2014

Roma, MAXXI, TRA/BETWEEN arte e architettura
Vienna, 21er Haus, Sigmund Freud

2015

New York, Sperone Westwater, Signs/Words
L’Avana, 12th Havana Biennale
Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum, Seth Siegelaub: Beyond Conceptual Art
New York, Paula Cooper Gallery, The Xerox Book
Praga, National Gallery, Generosity: The Art of Giving

2016

Parigi, Centre Pompidou, René Magritte: La trashion des images
Venezia, Palazzo Fortuny, Quand fondra la neige ou ira le blanc?
New York, Brooklyn Museum, Infinite Blue

2017

Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles to New York: Dawn Gallery 1959-1971
Melbourne, National Gallery of Victoria, Patrick Pound: The Great Exhibition
Nimes, Carre d’Art-Musee d’Art Contemporain, Du Verbe à la Communication