Robert Longo is an American artist whose work has made a significant impact on contemporary art since the late 20th century. Born on January 7, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, Longo grew up in a time of cultural and political upheaval, which would later influence his artistic vision. His childhood fascination with mass media—movies, television, magazines, and comic books—continues to inform his art to this day. Longo's journey into the art world began with his education. He initially attended the University of North Texas but left before completing his degree. In 1972, he received a grant to study at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy, where he discovered his passion for making art rather than preserving it. Upon returning to the United States, Longo enrolled at Buffalo State College, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1975. During his time at Buffalo State, he was influenced by art professor Joseph Piccillo and became associated with fellow artist Cindy Sherman. In college, Longo co-founded Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center, an avant-garde gallery in a converted ice factory. This experience connected him with many artists and critics in New York City, which eventually led him to move there and immerse himself in the vibrant art scene. It was in New York that Longo's career began to take off. Longo's early work was marked by his "Men in the Cities" series, which gained him recognition in the 1980s. This series featured large-scale drawings of sharply dressed men and women in contorted poses, capturing the emotional and physical tension of urban life. The drawings, characterized by their chiseled lines and three-dimensional quality, showcased Longo's ability to use graphite with a sculptural sensibility. Throughout his career, Longo has worked across various mediums, including drawing, photography, painting, sculpture, performance, and film. His work often addresses themes of power, authority, and the individual's place within society. Longo's art is known for its boldness and scale, often described as a cross between movies and monuments. His aesthetic approach and conceptual depth have made his work a symbol of the changing landscape of New York City in the 1980s and beyond. Longo's interest in the iconography of power and violence is evident in his works, such as the "Black Flags" series, which features distressed and blackened American flags, and his large-scale drawings of handguns. These works provide a critique of American society and its preoccupations with power and violence. In addition to his visual art, Longo has also made contributions to the world of film and music. He directed the science fiction film "Johnny Mnemonic," starring Keanu Reeves, and created music videos for bands like R.E.M. and New Order. Longo's involvement in the punk music scene of the late 1970s further demonstrates his multidisciplinary approach to art. Longo's work has been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions worldwide, including retrospectives at the Hamburger Kunstverein, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, and the Musée d'art moderne et d'art contemporain in Nice, France. His art is held in major public collections, such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York; the Art Institute of Chicago; the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris; and the Albertina in Vienna. Today, Robert Longo continues to live and work in New York, where he remains a vital figure in the contemporary art world. His work is represented by prestigious galleries, including Pace Gallery and Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac. Longo's art continues to challenge viewers, combining personal expression with social commentary, and his legacy as a key figure in the Pictures Generation movement endures.

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