DAVID ALTMEJD

Early Years and Education

Altmejd grew up in Montréal, developing an early fascination with science and geology. He studied at Université du Québec à Montréal (BFA, 1998), later completing his MFA at Columbia University, New York, in 2001. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles.

David Altmejd Artworks

David Altmejd’s practice centres on intricate sculptural environments built from materials including epoxy clay, expanded foam, synthetic hair, crystals, and mirrored Perspex. His early works, such as Bouquet No. 4 (1997)—with synthetic blooms gyrating on wall-mounted motors—and Table No. 2 (1998)—featuring vibrating wigs—explored the vitality of inanimate objects. Altmejd’s mythic werewolf heads and bejewelled creatures, including Werewolf No. 1 (2000), embody metamorphosis, decay, and regeneration, often sprouting crystals and uncanny outgrowths.

His signature Perspex vitrines create labyrinthine environments of interconnected objects—linked by gold chains, branches, and threads—to evoke biological wholeness. Notable installations like Delicate Men in Positions of Power (2003) and The Flux and the Puddle (2014) underscore his interest in chaos, order, and the generative unconscious. Altmejd’s recent works include wall-mounted sculptural reliefs in aqua resin and fibreglass (e.g., Le Saut, 2017), with hand-like forms clawing from the picture plane.

Select Public Commissions, Awards and Accolades

• Sobey Art Award, 2009.
• The Eye, Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, Canada.
• At Frieze Sculpture 2025 in The Regent’s Park, London, David Altmejd debuted Nymph 1 Nymph 2 Nymph 3—a trio of life-sized bronze figures presented by White Cube. Suspended in mid-motion, each sculpture captures fluid dance and embodies Altmejd’s fascination with metamorphosis and the raw tactility of sculpted surfaces.

David Altmejd Exhibitions

• The Serpent, White Cube, New York, 2025.
• L’esprit dans le temple de l’âme, David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles, 2024.
• Rabbits, Xavier Hufkens, Brussels, 2020.
• Flux, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, and travelling venues (2014–15).
• The Orbit, MOCA Cleveland, Ohio, 2012.
• The Index, Canada Pavilion, 52nd Venice Biennale, 2007.

Group Exhibitions

• Handle With Care, Colección SOLO, Madrid, 2024.
• Art Karnival, K11 Musea, Hong Kong, 2022.
• A Gateway to Possible Worlds, Centre Pompidou-Metz, France, 2022.
• Au bout de mes rêves, Le Tripostal Lille, France, 2023–24.
• Zombies: Pay Attention!, Aspen Art Museum, 2018.
• Liverpool Biennial, UK, 2008.
• Whitney Biennial, New York, 2004.

David Altmejd FAQs

Ocula | 2025