Skip to main content
Almine Rech

John Giorno

Oct 12 — Nov 13, 2021 | London

Almine Rech London, in collaboration with the John Giorno Foundation, is pleased to announce a solo exhibition by John Giorno, marking the artist’s first posthumous solo show in the UK. The exhibition will open on October 12 and run through November 13, 2021 with an opening reception on October 12 from 5pm to 8pm. 

John Giorno (1936-2019) is recognised as one of the most innovative poets and artists of the twentieth century. His kaleidoscopic work fused and furthered poetry, visual art and activism, pushing text off the printed page and into the social realm. Laura Hoptman, Executive Director of the Drawing Center, New York, writes in the publication for the Giorno retrospective at Palais de Tokyo, Paris, “What if concrete poetry and Pop Art merged, like perfect lovers? They would produce John Giorno, muse of the greatest single-word movie (Sleep, 1963) and author of found object word poetry...Giorno’s friendships with Warhol, then Burroughs, and subsequently, his close liaisons with Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns, indicate his presence in the orbit of visual art rather than literature in New York.”

Press release

  • read or download in English

Selected artworks

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      A HURRICANE IN A DROP OF CUM, 2015

    John Giorno Foundation A HURRICANE IN A DROP OF CUM, 2015

    Screenprint and enamel on linen
    101,6 x 101,6 cm

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH MY MIND, 2018

    John Giorno Foundation 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 Foundation,                                      SIT IN MY HEART AND SMILE, 2019

    John Giorno Foundation 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 Foundation,                                      NOW AT THE DAWN OF MY LIFE, 2019

    John Giorno Foundation NOW AT THE DAWN OF MY LIFE, 2019

    Acrylic on primed linen
    142.2 x 141.6 cm
    56 x 55 3/4 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      YOU GOT TO BURN TO SHINE, 2019

    John Giorno Foundation 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 Foundation,                                      LIVING IN YOUR EYES, 2019

    John Giorno Foundation LIVING IN YOUR EYES, 2019

    Oil on linen
    141 x 141.3 cm
    55 1/2 x 55 5/8 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      JASMINE BURN, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation JASMINE BURN, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      GARDENIA SWEETEN THE AIR SEDUCINGLY SLY, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation GARDENIA SWEETEN THE AIR SEDUCINGLY SLY, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      SNOW DAHLIAS SHARP AS CAT PISS, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation SNOW DAHLIAS SHARP AS CAT PISS, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      CHRYSANTHEMUMS ARE A GARLAND OF SKULLS, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation CHRYSANTHEMUMS ARE A GARLAND OF SKULLS, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      DIAL-A-POEM, 1968-2019

    John Giorno Foundation 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 Foundation,                                      HIT MY NOSE WITH THE STEM OF A ROSE, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation 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 Foundation,                                      POPPIES PACKED WITH DRUG TREATS, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation POPPIES PACKED WITH DRUG TREATS, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      CLIMATIS CLINGING CELESTIAL DEVOTED, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation CLIMATIS CLINGING CELESTIAL DEVOTED, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      PEONIES TOPPLING MILK OF MALICE, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation PEONIES TOPPLING MILK OF MALICE, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      WATERLILLIES SUCKING MUD, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation WATERLILLIES SUCKING MUD, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      LAVENDER LAUGHING LUSTFUL, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation LAVENDER LAUGHING LUSTFUL, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      MARIGOLD TIGHT AS A CRAB'S ASS,, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation MARIGOLD TIGHT AS A CRAB'S ASS,, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      ORCHIDS ARE TONGUES THAT LIED, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation ORCHIDS ARE TONGUES THAT LIED, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      DAFFODILS BAPTIZED IN BUTTER, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation DAFFODILS BAPTIZED IN BUTTER, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      IRIS PURPLE SPEARS UNSHEATH WRESTLING WRATHFUL, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation IRIS PURPLE SPEARS UNSHEATH WRESTLING WRATHFUL, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      FOXGLOVE CARILLON CRYING PEARLS, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation FOXGLOVE CARILLON CRYING PEARLS, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      CARNATIONS GLORIOUSLY SELF-SERVING, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation CARNATIONS GLORIOUSLY SELF-SERVING, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in

  • John Giorno Foundation,                                      FERNS UNFURLING FEATHERS GRACEFULLY NEEDY, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation 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 Foundation,                                      HONEYSUCKLE EATING THE SMELL, 2017

    John Giorno Foundation HONEYSUCKLE EATING THE SMELL, 2017

    Acrylic on canvas
    101.6 x 101.6 cm
    40 x 40 in