Mel Bochner (b. 1940, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is considered a pioneer of the Post-Minimal and Conceptual art movements. Bochner is a master colourist and is best known for his exploration of connections between language, perception and meaning. He was the subject of a retrospective at the Art Institute of Chicago in 2022, drawing from the museum’s significant collection of Bochner pieces, and included in The Double: Identity and Difference in Art Since 1900 curated by James Meyer at the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., 2023
His works can be found in permanent collections around the world, including The Menil Collection, Houston, Texas (acquired in 2023); Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the MOCA in Los Angeles, California; the Musée National d’Art Moderne in Paris; The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; The Courtauld Institute of Art and the Tate Modern, in London; The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Smithsonian Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C.; the Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland, Ohio; the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania; The Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. In 2024 it was announced that his complete archive will be acquired by the Getty in Los Angeles, California.
Text courtesy TOTAH.


A respected voice in contemporary art discourse.
Focusing on ambitious storytelling and insightful art-world commentary. Ocula Magazine publishes in-depth interviews, critical essays and timely analysis on the artists, exhibitions and ideas driving the global art world.
Learn more about Ocula Magazine
Showcasing the best of the art world.
Ocula partners with galleries from around the world to highlight their artists, artworks and exhibitions. Gallery membership is by application and invitation, with each member vetted by an independent panel.
Learn more about Ocula Membership
Specialises in the sale of major artworks.
Led by a team with deep ties to the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and collectors. Ocula’s advisory team offers bespoke services to high-net-worth clients from around the world who are looking to acquire the best of contemporary and modern art.
Learn more about our team and services