Michael Basinski b. 1950

Labels by Asher Glazer

Michael Basinski was born in 1950 on the East Side of Buffalo, NY and has been contributing to the art sphere of Western New York ever since. A poet heavily influenced by the Fluxus art movement, he focuses on poetic narrative using both shape and text. Basinski often refers to his work as Opems: visual poems with no start or end point and improvisational in nature. The almost bacteria-like nature of the work reflects his early academic career, where he received an associate degree in chemistry from Erie County Community College. He has since received multiple degrees in English from the University at Buffalo and shown in his love of poetry. 

Alternative Label:

The Fluxus Art Movement was established in the late 1950s as a group of artists disillusioned with the art world at the time. They heavily emphasized the use of everyday objects, ephemeral gestures, and artistic anonymity. An almost Dadaist humor was also often found in Fluxus art. Michael Basinski’s art sits comfortably in this movement, using letters as texture as well as the found object use of magazines and non-fine art materials like children's markers. The organized chaos of the work is what makes it come together. As massive as the piece is, the tiny, intricate details are what makes the work come to life. 

For Kids: 

Look at the amazing number of colors and shapes in this piece. What do they look like to you? They almost look like bacteria swimming in a pond of shapes, letters, and textures. Michael Basinski loves to play with color and writing, especially since he is a poet as well as a mixed media artist. Basinski used a lot of different materials to create this artwork that include magazine cut-outs, markers, and paint. Why might someone use different materials to create art? What materials would you use in your art-making process?