The work of John Giorno embraces two disciplines: poetry and art, which have been a source of mutual fascination and inspiration for the artist. Harboring a close kinship with William Burroughs, Robert Rauschenberg, and Andy Warhol, for whom he starred in the famous film, Sleep (1963), Giorno is recognized today as one of the most influential poets of his generation. He is also considered the inventor of Performance Poetry, and of Dial-A-Poem - a free telephone line to connect listeners to recordings of original works of poetry. Giorno's words transform to images in his Poem Paintings which are short excerpts from his writings, phrases that have continually haunted him. At the crossroads between poetry, visual arts, music and performance, Giorno's work directs itself toward a broad public, redefining the capabilities of poetry and linguistic form.
John Giorno
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John Giorno, FERNS UNFURLING FEATHERS GRACEFULLY NEEDY, 2017
Oil on canvas
Cadmium red light oil on canvas
101.6 x 101.6
40 x 40 -
John Giorno, SNOW DAHLIAS SHARP AS CAT PISS, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in
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John Giorno, MARIGOLD TIGHT AS A CRAB'S ASS,, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, JASMINE BURN, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, ORCHIDS ARE TONGUES THAT LIED, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, WATERLILLIES SUCKING MUD, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, LAVENDER LAUGHING LUSTFUL, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, ZINNIAS SHOUT POSITIVE PARANOIA, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, IRIS PURPLE SPEARS UNSHEATH WRESTLING WRATHFUL, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in
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John Giorno, PEONIES TOPPLING MILK OF MALICE, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, HIT MY NOSE WITH THE STEM OF A ROSE, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, POPPIES PACKED WITH DRUG TREATS, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, DAFFODILS BAPTIZED IN BUTTER, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, GARDENIA SWEETEN THE AIR SEDUCINGLY SLY, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, CARNATIONS GLORIOUSLY SELF-SERVING, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, CHRYSANTHEMUMS ARE A GARLAND OF SKULLS, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, FOXGLOVE CARILLON CRYING PEARLS, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, HONEYSUCKLE EATING THE SMELL, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in -
John Giorno, CLIMATIS CLINGING CELESTIAL DEVOTED, 2017
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 101.6 cm
40 x 40 in
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John Giorno, DIAL-A-POEM, 1968-2019
Edition 2 of 20
Telephone, computer with 293 digitally recorded poems, from 135 poets and artists
12,7 x 27.9 x 27.3 cm
5 x 11 x 10 3/4 in -
John Giorno, SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH MY MIND, 2018
Gloss enamel on canvas
141.3 x 141 cm
55 5/8 x 55 1/2 in -
John Giorno, NOW AT THE DAWN OF MY LIFE, 2019
Acrylic on primed linen
142.2 x 141.6 cm
56 x 55 3/4 in
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John Giorno, LIVING IN YOUR EYES, 2019
Oil on linen
141 x 141.3 cm
55 1/2 x 55 5/8 in -
John Giorno, SIT IN MY HEART AND SMILE, 2019
Oil on linen
141 x 141.6 cm
55 1/2 x 55 3/4 in -
John Giorno, YOU GOT TO BURN TO SHINE, 2019
Oil on linen
141 x 141.3 cm
55 1/2 x 55 5/8 in -
John Giorno, EVERYTHING IS DELUSION INCLUDING WISDOM, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, WORDS COME FROM SOUND SOUND COMES FROM WISDOM WISDOM COMES FROM EMPTINESS, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, WE GAVE A PARTY FOR THE GODS AND THE GODS ALL CAME, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, CHACUN EST UNE DÉCEPTION TOTALE, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, FILLING WHAT IS EMPTY EMPTYING WHAT IS FULL, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, SUICIDES ARE SONGS OF ASPIRATION, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, DON’T WAIT FOR ANYTHING, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, THE WORLD JUST MAKES ME LAUGH, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, THANX 4 NOTHING, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, EVERYONE IS A COMPLETE DISAPPOINMENT, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, EATING THE SKY, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, I WANT TO CUM IN YOUR HEART , 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, BAD NEWS IS ALWAYS TRUE, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, LIFE IS A KILLER, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, PREFER CRYING IN A LIMO TO LAUGHING ON A BUS, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, A HURRICANE IN A DROP OF CUM, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, EVERYONE GETS LIGHTER, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, SPACE FORGETS YOU, 2015
Screenprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, GOD IS MAN MADE, 2015
Screeprint and enamel on linen
101,6 x 101,6 cm -
John Giorno, DON’T WAIT FOR ANYTHING, 2012
Silkscreen on canvas
122 x 122 cm -
John Giorno, IT’S NOT WHAT HAPPENS IT’S HOW YOU HANDLE IT, 2010
Oil, Magenta Quinacridone
51 x 51 cm -
John Giorno, EVERYTHING IS DELUSION INCLUDING WISDOM, 2010
Faber-Castell pencils (Dark Cadmium Orange)
33 x 33 cm -
John Giorno, WORDS COME FROM SOUND’ SOUND COMES FROM WISDOM WISDOM COMES FROM EMPTINESS, 2010
Faber - Castell pencils (Ultramarine)
24,7 x 24,7 cm -
John Giorno, MY FATHER WAS THE EMPOROR OF CHINA AND MY MOTHER AN INDIAN PRINCESS AND I HAVE COME HERE TO COLLECT MY INHERITANCE, 2010
Oil, Cadmium Red Vermilion
51 x 51 cm -
John Giorno, CHACUN EST UNE DECEPTION TOTALE, 2010
Faber-Castell pencils (Deep Scarlet Red)
20 x 20 cm -
John Giorno, JUST SAY NO TO FAMILY VALUES, 2010
Oil, Green Yellow Shade
30,5 x 30,5 cm -
John Giorno, A HURRICANE IN A DROP OF CUM, 2010
Oil, Codmium Lemon
25,5 x 25,5 cm -
John Giorno, THANX 4 NOTHING, 2010
Oil, Portland Grey Medium
25,5 x 25,5 cm -
John Giorno, WE GAVEN EEN FEEST VOOR DE GODDEN EN AL DE GODDEN KWAMEN, 2010
Oil, Gold Ochre
30,5 x 30,5 cm -
John Giorno, WE GAVE A PARTY FOR THE GODS AND THE GODS ALL CAME, 2010
Oil, Cerulean Blue
61 x 61 cm -
John Giorno, IT DOESN’T GET BETTER, 2010
Oil, Cadmium Red Light
40,5 x 40,5 cm -
John Giorno, EATING THE SKY, 2010
King’s Blue
76 x 76 cm -
John Giorno, I love to see your face when you're suffering, 2006
Acrylic on canvas
50 x 50 cm -
John Giorno, Heavier than Heaven, 2005
Screenprint, enamel on linen
50 x 50 cm -
John Giorno, Dead Cat Bounce, 2005
Screenprint, enamel on linen
50 x 50 cm -
John Giorno, LIKE AN AUTO ACCIDENT, YOU CAN'T KEEP YOUR EYES OFF IT, 2008
Pencil on paper, framed
25,5 x 25,5 cm -
John Giorno, JE VEUX ETRE DEGUEULASSE ET ANONYME, 2008
Pencil on paper, framed
12,5 x 12,5 cm -
John Giorno, MAY ALL THE TINY BLACK INSECTS CRAWLING ON THE PEONIE PETALS BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS IN FUTURE LIVES, 2008
Pencil on paper, framed
38,5 x 38,5 cm
Exhibitions
Museum Exhibitions
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Phraseology
— • The Bass Museum of Art, Miami, US -
Fire Figure Fantasy: Selections from ICA Miami’s Collection
— • ICA Miami, US -
Voyage d'hiver
— • Château de Versailles, Versailles -
I ♥ JOHN GIORNO
— • 80WSE Gallery, Artists Space, High Line Art, Howl! Happening, Hunter College Art Galleries, The Kitchen, New Museum, Red Bull Arts New York, Rubin Museum of Art, Sky Art, Swiss Institute, and White Columns New York -
UGO RONDINONE : I ♥ JOHN GIORNO
— • Palais de Tokyo, Paris
Selected press
- John Giorno, 'Armchair Traveler: Looking Back With Barbara Kruger and John Giorno', Interview Magazine, October 18, 2021 — 79.4 kB
- 'Memories of the Welsh Dial-a-Poem service', The Guardian, October 25, 2021 — 159.4 kB
- Melanie Gerlis, 'Artist and poet John Giorno’s iconic Dial-A-Poem project arrives in the UK', Financial Times, July 22, 2021 — 413.7 kB
- 'He’s a poet and the FBI know it: how John Giorno’s Dial-a-Poem alarmed the Feds', The Guardian, October 18, 2021 — 811.3 kB
- 'Artist and poet John Giorno’s iconic Dial-A-Poem project arrives in the UK', Dazed, October 15, 2021 — 101.0 kB
- 'London's calling: John Giorno’s seminal project inviting people to 'Dial-a-Poem' goes on show during Frieze', The Art Newspaper, October 12, 2021 — 906.0 kB
- 'OPENING SHOT', Financial Times: How to Spend it, September 25, 2021 — 664.1 kB
- 'From a nude dude to poems for the weary: the latest gossip from Frieze London', The Art Newspaper, October 16, 2021 — 270.5 kB
- John Giorno, 'Frieze week highlights- poetry on demand and Duchamp’s readymades', Apollo, October 6, 2021 — 257.9 kB
- Laura Hoptman 'John Giorno’, Artforum, February 2020 — 19.6 MB
- Roxana Azimi, 'Ugo Rondinone rend hommage à John Giorno au Palais de Tokyo', Le Quotidien de l'Art, November 23rd 2015 — 1.5 MB
- Elisabeth Couturier, 'John Giorno - En vers et contre tous', Paris Match Online, November 20th 2015 — 419.0 kB
- Élisabeth Franck-Dumas, 'John Giorno, l'A(i)mant', Libération, November 16th, 2015 — 384.1 kB
- Thibaut Wychowanok, 'Love story', Numéro (n°168), November 2015 — 344.9 kB
- Judith Benhamou-Huet, 'John Giorno: lettre à un (encore) jeune poète au Palais de Tokyo', Les Echos, November 5th 2015 — 219.8 kB
- Jean-Max Colard, 'we ♥ you too', les inRockuptibles, 4th to 9th November, 2015 — 1.5 MB
- Thibaut Wychowanok, ‘Love Story’, Numéro, November, 2015 — 229.1 kB
- 'Rétrospective John Giorno - Quand la poésie devient un spectacle magique...', Beaux Arts Magazine, November 2015 — 2.2 MB
- Ted Loos, ‘John Giorno’s New Show in Paris Was Organized by His life Partner’, New York Times Online, October 27th 2015 — 287.5 kB
- Roxana Azimi, 'Giorno sans ego', Le Magazine du Monde, October 24th 2015 — 2.4 MB
- Eléonore Susler, 'John Giorno, jeune poète de 78 ans', Le Temps, April 2015 — 59.5 kB
- Julie Earle-Levine,' John Giorno's Half-Century on the Bowery', TMagazine, April 1st, 2015 — 380.6 kB
- Ilari Valbonesi, 'Una Nuova Età Della Poesia/a New Age of Poetry', Arteecritica, February-March — 6.2 MB
- Rob Pruitt, 'John Giorno', Interview Magazine Online, February 4th 2013 — 456.9 kB
- I.B., 'John Giorno', L'OFFICIEL ARTS, December-January-February, 2012/2013. — 323.5 kB
- Sylvain Desmille, 'Tombeau de Giorno', DIGITAL MAGAZINE, september, 2012. — 1.2 MB
- Holger Liebs, 'Buon Giorno', MONOPOL, July, 2011. — 1.8 MB
- Claude Laurent, 'Un moment d'histoire poétique', LA LIBRE BELGIQUE, November 19th, 2010. — 488.0 kB
- Nicole Klagsbrun, 'John Giorno', ART IN AMERICA, October, 2010 — 1.5 MB
- Ethan Swan, '222 Bowery: The Bunker', ANP QUARTERLY, 2010. — 1.4 MB
- Elisabeth Kley, 'Gotham Art & Theatre', ARTNET, January 5th, 2010. — 144.3 kB
- David Velasco, '500 words - John Giorno', ARTFORUM.COM, January 2009. — 245.2 kB
- Daphné Le Sergent, 'Trace du sacré, sous toutes sortes de pistes', ART ACTUEL, May/ June, 2008. — 1.7 MB
- Hans Ulrich Obrist, 'Hans Ulrich Obrist interviews John Giorno', UNDO.NET, October 7, 2002. — 313.8 kB