b. 1952
Born in Norman, Oklahoma, David Salle now lives and works in East Hampton, New York. Predominantly known for his post-modern, multi-layered paintings involving complex compositions, Salle also works in photography, printmaking, and stage design. He is the author of the book How to See (2016). His works are constructed by cross-referencing images from popular culture, history, and everyday objects as well as his own, often figurative, photography.
Salle’s works are deliberately provocative and are created instinctively, while questioning and expanding the limits of painting and image making. He completed his BFA (1973) and MFA (1975) at the California Institute of the Arts, where he studied under John Baldessari.
Salle has shown at many major institutions globally. Recent exhibitions include ‘Tree of Life, This Time with Feeling’, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris (2023); ‘The Yellow Light at 6PM: Remembering, Envisioning, Sensing Landscape’, Galerie Max Hetzler, Berlin (2023); ‘Beautiful, Vivid, Self-contained’, curated by David Salle, Hill Art Foundation, New York; ‘David Salle’, Gladstone Gallery, Brussels (2022); ‘David Salle’, a survey show at The Brant Foundation (2021-2022). He has received awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters (2016), the National Academy of Art (2015) and the Guggenheim Fellowship for Theatre Design (1986).
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David Salle’s Rejection Letter: “Too much self-criticality can be fatal, but not enough is just as dangerous”
