Michael Asher
1943–2012
Introduction
Michael Max Asher (July 15, 1943 – October 15, 2012) was an American conceptual artist, described by The New York Times as "among the patron saints of the Conceptual Art phylum known as Institutional Critique, an often esoteric dissection of the assumptions that govern how we perceive art." Rather than designing new art objects, Asher typically altered the existing environment, by repositioning or removing artworks, walls, facades, etc.
Asher was also a highly regarded professor of art, who spent decades on the faculty at California Institute of the Arts. Cited by numerous successful artists as an important influence in their development, Asher's teaching has been described by British journalist Sarah Thornton as his "most influential" work.
Wikidata identifier
Q325112
Information from Wikipedia, made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License . Accessed January 2, 2026.
Introduction
Active since the 1960's, Asher's work focused on critiques of the institutions that display art, often by altering the architecture of those spaces where he exhibits.
Country of birth
United States
Roles
Artist, conceptual artist, sculptor
ULAN identifier
500022950
Names
Michael Asher, Mike Asher
Information from the Getty Research Institute's Union List of Artist Names ® (ULAN), made available under the ODC Attribution License. Accessed January 2, 2026.
