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Biography

Considered a key member of The Pictures Generation, Sarah Charlesworth (1947-2013, b. East Orange, New Jersey) is known for her conceptually-driven and visually alluring photo-based works. Through her exacting forms, assiduous process, and subjective interventions, Charlesworth aimed to subvert and deconstruct cultural imagery. Charlesworth’s work has been the subject of one-person exhibitions at a number of institutions, including the major survey, “Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleworld,” at the New Museum, New York (2015), which traveled to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (2017); and a retrospective organized by SITE Santa Fe (1997), which traveled to the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego (1998); the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC (1998); and the Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art (1999). Her work is in important public collections including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; the Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven; and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
 

Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails
Sarah Charlesworth, Sphinx, 1986, Cibachrome with lacquered wood frame, 41 x 31 in. (104.1 x 78.7 cm)

Sarah Charlesworth
Sphinx, 1986
Cibachrome with lacquered wood frame
41 x 31 in. (104.1 x 78.7 cm)
AP1, Edition of an edition of 3, plus 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth Pipe, 2002 Fuji Crystal Archive print with lacquered wood frame 31 1/2 x 41 1/2 in. (80 x 105.4 cm) frame: 34 x 44 x 1 in. (86.4 x 111.8 x 2.5 cm) Edition of 8, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Pipe, 2002
Fuji Crystal Archive print with lacquered wood frame
31 1/2 x 41 1/2 in. (80 x 105.4 cm)
frame: 34 x 44 x 1 in. (86.4 x 111.8 x 2.5 cm)
Edition of 8, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth Rider, 1983-1984 cibachrome with lacquered wood frame frame: 20 1/2 x 15 3/4 x 1 1/4 in. (52.1 x 40 x 3.2 cm) Edition of 7, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Rider, 1983-1984
cibachrome with lacquered wood frame
frame: 20 1/2 x 15 3/4 x 1 1/4 in. (52.1 x 40 x 3.2 cm)
Edition of 7, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth Buddha of Immeasurable Light, 1987 Cibachrome with lacquered wood frame  Diptych, 42 x 62 inches © The Estate of Sarah Charlesworth.

Sarah Charlesworth
Buddha of Immeasurable Light, 1987
Cibachrome with lacquered wood frame 
Diptych, 42 x 62 inches
© The Estate of Sarah Charlesworth.

 

Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleword, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, August 20, 2017 - February 4, 2018, art © The Estate of Sarah Charlesworth. photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleword, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, August 20, 2017 - February 4, 2018, art © The Estate of Sarah Charlesworth. photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

 

Sarah Charlesworth Red Veils, 1992-93 Cibachrome with lacquered wood frame 44 x 54 1/2 in. (111.8 x 138.4 cm) Edition of 6, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Red Veils, 1992-93
Cibachrome with lacquered wood frame
44 x 54 1/2 in. (111.8 x 138.4 cm)
Edition of 6, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth Regarding Venus, 2012 Fuji Crystal Archive prints with lacquered frames 41 x 63 in. (104.1 x 160 cm) Edition of 8, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Regarding Venus, 2012
Fuji Crystal Archive prints with lacquered frames
41 x 63 in. (104.1 x 160 cm)
Edition of 8, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth Doubleworld, 1995 Cibachrome print with mahogany frame 50 1/4 x 41 x 1 3/16 in. (127.6 x 104.1 x 3 cm) Edition of 6, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Doubleworld, 1995
Cibachrome print with mahogany frame
50 1/4 x 41 x 1 3/16 in. (127.6 x 104.1 x 3 cm)
Edition of 6, + 2 APs

 

Stills, 1980. Installation view, Art Institute of Chicago, 2014, © The Estate of Sarah Charlesworth.

Stills, 1980. Installation view, Art Institute of Chicago, 2014, © The Estate of Sarah Charlesworth.

Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleword, New Museum, New York, 2015, Courtesy New Museum, New York. Photo: Maris Hutchinson.

Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleword, New Museum, New York, 2015, Courtesy New Museum, New York. Photo: Maris Hutchinson.

 

Sarah Charlesworth Maps, 1987 cibachrome with lacquered wood frame diptych, overall: 41 x 61 1/4 x 2 in. (104.1 x 155.6 x 5.1 cm) Edition of 4, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Maps, 1987
cibachrome with lacquered wood frame
diptych, overall: 41 x 61 1/4 x 2 in. (104.1 x 155.6 x 5.1 cm)
Edition of 4, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth Samurai, 1981 black and white mural print, mounted with lacquered wood frame frame: 63 7/8 x 49 7/8 x 1 5/8 in. (162.2 x 126.7 x 4.1 cm) Edition of 3, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Samurai, 1981
black and white mural print, mounted with lacquered wood frame
frame: 63 7/8 x 49 7/8 x 1 5/8 in. (162.2 x 126.7 x 4.1 cm)
Edition of 3, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleword, New Museum, New York, 2015, Courtesy New Museum, New York. Photo by Benoit Pailley.

Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleword, New Museum, New York, 2015, Courtesy New Museum, New York. Photo by Benoit Pailley.

 

Sarah Charlesworth Stone Tablet, 1981 black and white mural print, mounted with lacquered wood frame frame: 65 7/8 x 49 7/8 x 1 5/8 in. (167.3 x 126.7 x 4.1 cm) Edition of 3, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Stone Tablet, 1981
black and white mural print, mounted with lacquered wood frame
frame: 65 7/8 x 49 7/8 x 1 5/8 in. (167.3 x 126.7 x 4.1 cm)
Edition of 3, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth Separation, 1991 Dye-sublimation prints (2) lacquered wood frames each image: 52 x 19 in. (132.1 x 48.3 cm) each frame: 56  x 23 in. (142.2 x 58.4 cm) overall: 56 x 48 in. (142.2 x 121.9 cm) Edition of 5, + 2AP's

Sarah Charlesworth
Separation, 1991
Dye-sublimation prints (2) lacquered wood frames
each image: 52 x 19 in. (132.1 x 48.3 cm)
each frame: 56  x 23 in. (142.2 x 58.4 cm)
overall: 56 x 48 in. (142.2 x 121.9 cm)
Edition of 5, + 2AP's

Sarah Charlesworth Movie-Television-News-History, June 21, 1979, 1979 27 black and white prints  reproduced same size as original newspapers, varying sizes, approximately 16 x 22 inches each
Sarah Charlesworth
Movie-Television-News-History, June 21, 1979, 1979
27 black and white prints 
reproduced same size as original newspapers, varying sizes, approximately 16 x 22 inches each

 
Sarah Charlesworth Movie-Television-News-History, June 21, 1979, 1979 27 black and white prints  reproduced same size as original newspapers, varying sizes, approximately 16 x 22 inches each

Sarah Charlesworth
Movie-Television-News-History, June 21, 1979, 1979
27 black and white prints 
reproduced same size as original newspapers, varying sizes, approximately 16 x 22 inches each

 

Sarah Charlesworth Fashion Collage, 1983-1984 cibachrome with lacquered wood frame frame: 20 1/2 x 15 3/4 x 1 1/4 in. (52.1 x 40 x 3.2 cm) Edition of 7, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Fashion Collage, 1983-1984
cibachrome with lacquered wood frame
frame: 20 1/2 x 15 3/4 x 1 1/4 in. (52.1 x 40 x 3.2 cm)
Edition of 7, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth, Sphinx, 1986, Cibachrome with lacquered wood frame, 41 x 31 in. (104.1 x 78.7 cm)

Sarah Charlesworth
Sphinx, 1986
Cibachrome with lacquered wood frame
41 x 31 in. (104.1 x 78.7 cm)
AP1, Edition of an edition of 3, plus 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth Pipe, 2002 Fuji Crystal Archive print with lacquered wood frame 31 1/2 x 41 1/2 in. (80 x 105.4 cm) frame: 34 x 44 x 1 in. (86.4 x 111.8 x 2.5 cm) Edition of 8, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Pipe, 2002
Fuji Crystal Archive print with lacquered wood frame
31 1/2 x 41 1/2 in. (80 x 105.4 cm)
frame: 34 x 44 x 1 in. (86.4 x 111.8 x 2.5 cm)
Edition of 8, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth Rider, 1983-1984 cibachrome with lacquered wood frame frame: 20 1/2 x 15 3/4 x 1 1/4 in. (52.1 x 40 x 3.2 cm) Edition of 7, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Rider, 1983-1984
cibachrome with lacquered wood frame
frame: 20 1/2 x 15 3/4 x 1 1/4 in. (52.1 x 40 x 3.2 cm)
Edition of 7, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth Buddha of Immeasurable Light, 1987 Cibachrome with lacquered wood frame  Diptych, 42 x 62 inches © The Estate of Sarah Charlesworth.

Sarah Charlesworth
Buddha of Immeasurable Light, 1987
Cibachrome with lacquered wood frame 
Diptych, 42 x 62 inches
© The Estate of Sarah Charlesworth.

 

Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleword, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, August 20, 2017 - February 4, 2018, art © The Estate of Sarah Charlesworth. photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleword, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, August 20, 2017 - February 4, 2018, art © The Estate of Sarah Charlesworth. photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

 

Sarah Charlesworth Red Veils, 1992-93 Cibachrome with lacquered wood frame 44 x 54 1/2 in. (111.8 x 138.4 cm) Edition of 6, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Red Veils, 1992-93
Cibachrome with lacquered wood frame
44 x 54 1/2 in. (111.8 x 138.4 cm)
Edition of 6, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth Regarding Venus, 2012 Fuji Crystal Archive prints with lacquered frames 41 x 63 in. (104.1 x 160 cm) Edition of 8, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Regarding Venus, 2012
Fuji Crystal Archive prints with lacquered frames
41 x 63 in. (104.1 x 160 cm)
Edition of 8, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth Doubleworld, 1995 Cibachrome print with mahogany frame 50 1/4 x 41 x 1 3/16 in. (127.6 x 104.1 x 3 cm) Edition of 6, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Doubleworld, 1995
Cibachrome print with mahogany frame
50 1/4 x 41 x 1 3/16 in. (127.6 x 104.1 x 3 cm)
Edition of 6, + 2 APs

 

Stills, 1980. Installation view, Art Institute of Chicago, 2014, © The Estate of Sarah Charlesworth.

Stills, 1980. Installation view, Art Institute of Chicago, 2014, © The Estate of Sarah Charlesworth.

Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleword, New Museum, New York, 2015, Courtesy New Museum, New York. Photo: Maris Hutchinson.

Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleword, New Museum, New York, 2015, Courtesy New Museum, New York. Photo: Maris Hutchinson.

 

Sarah Charlesworth Maps, 1987 cibachrome with lacquered wood frame diptych, overall: 41 x 61 1/4 x 2 in. (104.1 x 155.6 x 5.1 cm) Edition of 4, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Maps, 1987
cibachrome with lacquered wood frame
diptych, overall: 41 x 61 1/4 x 2 in. (104.1 x 155.6 x 5.1 cm)
Edition of 4, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth Samurai, 1981 black and white mural print, mounted with lacquered wood frame frame: 63 7/8 x 49 7/8 x 1 5/8 in. (162.2 x 126.7 x 4.1 cm) Edition of 3, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Samurai, 1981
black and white mural print, mounted with lacquered wood frame
frame: 63 7/8 x 49 7/8 x 1 5/8 in. (162.2 x 126.7 x 4.1 cm)
Edition of 3, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleword, New Museum, New York, 2015, Courtesy New Museum, New York. Photo by Benoit Pailley.

Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleword, New Museum, New York, 2015, Courtesy New Museum, New York. Photo by Benoit Pailley.

 

Sarah Charlesworth Stone Tablet, 1981 black and white mural print, mounted with lacquered wood frame frame: 65 7/8 x 49 7/8 x 1 5/8 in. (167.3 x 126.7 x 4.1 cm) Edition of 3, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Stone Tablet, 1981
black and white mural print, mounted with lacquered wood frame
frame: 65 7/8 x 49 7/8 x 1 5/8 in. (167.3 x 126.7 x 4.1 cm)
Edition of 3, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth Separation, 1991 Dye-sublimation prints (2) lacquered wood frames each image: 52 x 19 in. (132.1 x 48.3 cm) each frame: 56  x 23 in. (142.2 x 58.4 cm) overall: 56 x 48 in. (142.2 x 121.9 cm) Edition of 5, + 2AP's

Sarah Charlesworth
Separation, 1991
Dye-sublimation prints (2) lacquered wood frames
each image: 52 x 19 in. (132.1 x 48.3 cm)
each frame: 56  x 23 in. (142.2 x 58.4 cm)
overall: 56 x 48 in. (142.2 x 121.9 cm)
Edition of 5, + 2AP's

Sarah Charlesworth Movie-Television-News-History, June 21, 1979, 1979 27 black and white prints  reproduced same size as original newspapers, varying sizes, approximately 16 x 22 inches each

Sarah Charlesworth
Movie-Television-News-History, June 21, 1979, 1979
27 black and white prints 
reproduced same size as original newspapers, varying sizes, approximately 16 x 22 inches each

 

Sarah Charlesworth Fashion Collage, 1983-1984 cibachrome with lacquered wood frame frame: 20 1/2 x 15 3/4 x 1 1/4 in. (52.1 x 40 x 3.2 cm) Edition of 7, + 2 APs

Sarah Charlesworth
Fashion Collage, 1983-1984
cibachrome with lacquered wood frame
frame: 20 1/2 x 15 3/4 x 1 1/4 in. (52.1 x 40 x 3.2 cm)
Edition of 7, + 2 APs