Kaprow

Allan Kaprow (1927–2006) was an American artist and educator best known for developing the form of performance art known as the happening. In 1959, he organized 18 Happenings in 6 Parts, a landmark work that blurred the line between art and life by using immersive, process-oriented events rather than traditional objects. Happenings typically involved a sequence of actions, real-time participation by audience members, and a loose structure that allowed improvisation.

Kaprow also produced environmental and instructional works that emphasized participation, collaboration, and the integration of daily life into art. His ideas positioned the audience as co-creators and treated the artwork as an event rather than a finished object. This approach contributed to the development of installation art, performance art, and conceptual art, influencing artists in the 1960s and beyond.

Kaprow published writings on his theories and taught extensively, helping to spread the practice through museums, universities, and galleries. He remained active in the art world for several decades, with projects that continued to explore the relationships between viewers, materials, and everyday environments. He died in 2006.