DANA SCHUTZ
b. 1976, United StatesDana Schutz is an American painter known for her imaginative and unbridled canvases that depict hypothetical events and impossible scenarios, characterised by expressionistic brushwork and an effervescent use of colour.
Early Years
Dana Schutz was born in Livonia, Michigan in 1976. She studied at the Cleveland Institute of Art, earning her BFA in 2000, and received her MFA from Columbia University in 2002. While at Columbia, she developed the imaginative narrative approach that would define her early career. Schutz currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
Dana Schutz Artworks
Schutz’s practice is characterised by large-scale, vibrant paintings that fuse figuration with fantastical and often unsettling scenarios. Her works investigate the construction of narratives, the body, and psychological states through exaggerated forms and dynamic compositions.
Early Works: Invented Narratives (2002–2006)
Schutz first gained attention with paintings like Frank as a Proboscis Monkey (2002) and Frank in the Desert (2002), part of a series depicting a fictional character named Frank—the last man on earth. Her early work showcased a playful yet dark sensibility, blending painterly experimentation with imagined worlds. These works established her interest in painting as a means of inventing and illustrating self-contained mythologies.
Exploration of Violence and the Grotesque (2006–2016)
Over the next decade, Schutz’s work turned towards more charged and ambiguous subject matter. Works such as Self-Eater (2004) and Face Eater (2004) explored cycles of creation and destruction, while her Sneeze paintings presented figures in chaotic, visceral moments. Schutz’s use of distortion and bold colour intensified, creating densely layered scenes that invited both attraction and discomfort.
In 2012, her painting Piano in the Rain continued her exploration of absurdist narratives, depicting surreal, improvisational scenarios rendered in dynamic brushwork. Her 2015 solo exhibition Fight in an Elevator at Petzel Gallery, New York, presented works filled with bodies entangled in conflict, capturing claustrophobia and chaos.
Recent Works and Controversy (2017–Present)
Schutz’s painting Open Casket (2016), shown at the 2017 Whitney Biennial, became the centre of intense debate regarding representation and cultural appropriation, prompting public protests. The work depicted the body of Emmett Till, raising questions about the responsibilities and boundaries of artists depicting racialised violence. Schutz responded by clarifying her intentions as an empathetic response rather than an exploitative image.
In recent years, Schutz’s work has focused on densely populated, multi-figure compositions, often depicting figures in states of conflict, transformation, or entrapment. Her 2019 exhibition Imagine Me and You at the Thomas Dane Gallery in London showcased monumental paintings including Boat Group (2019) and Treading Water (2019), reflecting on collective anxiety and resilience through painterly metaphor.
Awards and Accolades
- Charlotte Street Foundation Fellowship (2002)
- Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award (2005)
Exhibitions
Dana Schutz has been the subject of both solo and group exhibitions at major institutions.
Solo Exhibitions
- Dana Schutz: The Island, George Economou Collection, Athens (2024)
- Dana Schutz: Between Us, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark; Musée d’art moderne de Paris, Paris (2023)
- Dana Schutz, Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston (2017)
- Dana Schutz: Works on Paper, Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver (2012)
- Dana Schutz: Drawings & Prints, Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Georgia (2011)
- Dana Schutz: Still Life, Shaheen Modern and Contemporary Art, Cleveland (2003)
Group Exhibitions
- FROM CINDY SHERMAN TO FRANCESCO VEZZOLI. 80 contemporary artists, Palazzo Reale, Milan (2025)
- Being in the World, The Tenth Anniversary of the Long Museum, Long Museum, Shanghai (2022)
- Women Painting Women, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas (2022)
- Radical Figures: Painting in the New Millennium, Whitechapel Gallery, London (2020)
- Paint, also known as Blood: Women, Affect, and Desire in Contemporary Painting, Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw (2019)
- Something Living, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney (2018)
- Whitney Biennial 2017, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (2017)
- America is Hard to See, Whitney Museum of American Art (2015)
Critical Reception
Schutz’s practice has been covered in leading publications including The New Yorker, Vulture, and The New York Times.
Dana Schutz FAQs
Where can I see Dana Schutz’s artworks?
Dana Schutz’s paintings are held in major museum collections and regularly exhibited internationally. Notable institutions include the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, and the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris. Her works have also been featured at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark, the George Economou Collection in Athens, and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
What is Dana Schutz best known for?
Schutz is best known for her large-scale, vividly coloured paintings that blend figuration with fantastical, sometimes unsettling narratives. Her early series featuring the fictional character Frank, as well as later works exploring violence, the grotesque, and collective anxiety, have established her as a leading figure in contemporary art.
Has Dana Schutz’s work generated controversy?
Yes. Her painting Open Casket (2016), exhibited at the 2017 Whitney Biennial, sparked significant debate about representation and cultural appropriation. The work depicted Emmett Till and prompted public protests and widespread discussion regarding the responsibilities of artists addressing sensitive historical subjects.
What awards and recognition has Dana Schutz received?
Schutz has received several notable accolades, including the Charlotte Street Foundation Fellowship (2002) and the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award (2005). Her work is frequently discussed in major art publications and has been the subject of solo exhibitions at leading international museums.
What are some key themes in Dana Schutz’s art?
Schutz’s art often explores invented narrative worlds, psychological states, and the boundaries between creation and destruction. Her paintings are known for their dynamic compositions, bold use of colour, and the tension between humour and discomfort.
Where can I find more information or critical writing about Dana Schutz?
Schutz’s practice has been widely discussed in leading publications such as The New Yorker, Vulture, and The New York Times, which provide in-depth analysis of her exhibitions and the impact of her work on contemporary art.
Ocula | 2025
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