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Jenny Holzer — Survival : Protect Me From What I Want (Artist's Proof)
Jenny Holzer

Survival : Protect Me From What I Want (Artist's Proof)

1984

This conceptual text based artwork presents a provocative statement cast into a durable aluminum plaque format. The work exemplifies the artist's practice of combining language with physical materials to create meaning and raise questions about desire and protection. The artist's proof designation indicates this is a preliminary version of the final work. The stark presentation of text forces viewers to confront the statement directly and reflect on its implications.

Medium
Text on cast aluminium plaque
Dimensions

🔨 Auction Lot

Vanguarts — Contemporary Dialogue

April 23, 2026

Estimate: $35,000$40,000

Lot 14

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About this work

Jenny Holzer, Survival : Protect Me From What I Want (Artist's Proof), 1984

This conceptual text based artwork presents a provocative statement cast into a durable aluminum plaque format. The work exemplifies the artist's practice of combining language with physical materials to create meaning and raise questions about desire and protection. The artist's proof designation indicates this is a preliminary version of the final work. The stark presentation of text forces viewers to confront the statement directly and reflect on its implications.

Medium
Text on cast aluminium plaque
Dimensions
15.2 x 24.1 cm
Year
1984
Seen at
Vanguarts, Online (via Artsy)

Related themes

Artist's Proof, Monochrome, Living Artist, 20th Century, Blue Chip, Cast Aluminium, Institutional Critique, Conceptual, American, Provocative Statement, Conceptual Art, Language Art, Typography, Female Artist, Text-Based Art, Philosophical Content, Contemporary Conceptualism, Black and White, Truism, Contemporary, Planar Composition

More works by Jenny Holzer

Collected by

Alex Capecelatro, Art Institute of Chicago