John Coplans was a British-American artist, writer, curator and museum director whose multifaceted career spanned several decades and continents. Born in London in 1920, Coplans served in World War II before emigrating to the United States in 1960. He became a central figure in the American art world, both as a practitioner and as a critic.
“Selfportrait - Side, hand pinched”, clubbed for 1 246 GBP at Stockholms Auktionsverk.
Coplans’s artistic practice is best known for his large-scale photographic self-portraits, which explore themes of ageing, identity and the human body. His work is marked by its honesty, vulnerability and willingness to confront the realities of the aging process. Coplans was also a founding editor of Artforum, where he played a key role in shaping critical discourse around contemporary art.
Photography and the Body
Coplans’s photographic series, often featuring his own body, challenge conventional notions of beauty and self-representation. By focusing on the ageing male form, he subverts traditional artistic ideals and invites viewers to reconsider their perceptions of the body and identity. His images are both intimate and universal, offering a poignant commentary on the passage of time.
Exhibitions and Influence
John Coplans exhibited widely in Europe and North America, and his work is held in major museum collections. His contributions as an artist, writer, and curator have left a lasting legacy, inspiring new generations to explore the intersections of art, criticism, and personal narrative