Bill Viola Art for Sale at Auction

b. 1951 -

(b New York, NY, 1951) Contemporary Video/New Media Artist. Bill Viola is considered a pioneer in bringing video installation to the fine art world. In 1973, he received his BFA in Experimental Studios from Syracuse University. He has traveled the world filming cultural performances and natural sounds. These travels have greatly influenced his video and sound installations; which explore human emotions and his interest in Zen Buddhism, Islamic Sufism and Christian mysticism. In 1978, Viola married Kira Perov, who is his main collaborator. Viola has received the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, in 1989, along with being awarded the Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Government in 2006. (Credit: Phillips de Pury & Company, Contemporary Art, October 18, 2008, Lot 310.)