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James Lee Byars — The Figure of Death
James Lee Byars

The Figure of Death

James Lee Byars's *The Figure of Death* embodies the artist's lifelong preoccupation with mortality, transcendence, and the poetic boundaries between presence and absence. True to Byars's signature aesthetic, the work likely employs spare, ceremonial forms that transform existential weight into an experience of quiet, enigmatic beauty. The piece invites contemplation on the ephemeral nature of existence, reflecting Byars's theatrical yet deeply philosophical approach to art-making.

🔨 Auction Lot

Contemporary Art Evening Sale

May 14, 2015

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About this work

James Lee Byars, The Figure of Death

James Lee Byars's *The Figure of Death* embodies the artist's lifelong preoccupation with mortality, transcendence, and the poetic boundaries between presence and absence. True to Byars's signature aesthetic, the work likely employs spare, ceremonial forms that transform existential weight into an experience of quiet, enigmatic beauty. The piece invites contemplation on the ephemeral nature of existence, reflecting Byars's theatrical yet deeply philosophical approach to art-making.

Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

Dark Mood, Death Imagery, 20th Century, Performance and Installation, Death and Mortality, Performance Art, Symbolic Subject, Minimalist Aesthetic, Male Artist, Memento Mori, Mysterious Mood, Conceptual Art, Enigmatic Atmosphere, American Artist, Death Symbolism, Late 20th Century, Avant-Garde Artist, Symbolic Imagery, Somber Mood

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