Barbara Kasten

Barbara Kasten is an American artist known for her conceptual photography and sculptural installations. Born in 1936 in Chicago, Kasten began her artistic career as a painter and textile artist before shifting her focus to photography in the 1970s. Her work is characterized by the use of mirrors, colored lights, and architectural elements to create abstract compositions that challenge the viewer's perception of space and form. Kasten's photographs often resemble architectural models or stage sets, blurring the line between reality and illusion.

Kasten's work has been exhibited widely in the United States and internationally, with solo exhibitions at institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She has also participated in group exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Tate Modern in London. In addition to her photographic work, Kasten has created site-specific installations that further explore the interplay of light, shadow, and architectural space.

Kasten's work is included in the collections of major museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She has received numerous awards and grants, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a National Endowment for the Arts grant. Kasten's influence can be seen in the work of contemporary artists who use photography and installation to explore the boundaries of perception and the built environment.