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Oscar Tuazon - Artists - Luhring Augustine
Oscar Tuazon - Artists - Luhring Augustine

Oscar Tuazon
Zome Alloy, 2016
Installation view June 2016 © Art Basel

 

Oscar Tuazon’s work has roots in minimalism, conceptualism, and architecture, and has a direct relationship with both the site in which it is presented, as well as with the viewer, often through physical engagement. Although he identifies primarily as a sculptor and his work is informed by minimalist strategies, Tuazon’s practice occupies a position between architecture and activism, and his concern is with relationality and presence over purity in form. Made with a combination of industrial and natural materials such as wood, concrete, glass, steel, and piping, his works, often large-scale installations, consist of structures that foreground their own means of construction. He considers a sculptural installation as homologous to a house: both are continuously built, repaired, and maintained. By extension, the act of inhabiting or occupying a space functions as a kind of artistic production, serving as the undercurrent of his predominantly site-specific practice.

The artist is working towards the foundation of Cedar Spring Water School, which will be a functional work of public art that aims to bring awareness to an ecologically fraught area, where the water that has served the community and environment for thousands of years is at great risk. In the tradition of Land Art works in the Western region of this country, Cedar Spring Water School will be a publicly accessible site that engages with a remote natural environment.  Through this permanent artwork, Tuazon hopes to promote a better understanding of the water politics in the rural West, and of water’s significance as a global political resource used for control of natural environments and native communities.

Oscar Tuazon - Artists - Luhring Augustine

Oscar Tuazon, Burn the Formwork (Fire Building), 2017, Concrete, refractory cement, stainless steel, and fire. © Skulptur Projekte Münster 2017, Photo: Henning Rogge

 

Oscar Tuazon (b. 1975, Seattle) lives and works in Los Angeles. Recent exhibitions include a major mid-career retrospective of the artist’s work, Oscar Tuazon: Building, at Kunst Museum Winterthur in early 2023. The exhibition was organized in collaboration with Bergen Kunsthall, which hosted Oscar Tuazon: Water School (January 27 – April 9, 2023), and the Kunsthalle Bielefeld, which also hosted Oscar Tuazon: All We Need (August 19 – November 12, 2023). A comprehensive monograph on the artist’s work, Oscar Tuazon: Building, was jointly published by DoPe Press for all three exhibitions. Other solo shows include Oscar Tuazon: Fire Worship at the Aspen Art Museum; Oscar Tuazon: Collaborator at Bellevue Arts Museum; Oscar Tuazon: Water School at MSU Broad Museum. Tuazon was also included in the 2019 Chicago Architecture Biennial. He has been commissioned for numerous public art works including Growth Rings for Central Wharf Park in Boston in 2019; a large-scale installation Une colonne d’eau in the Place Vendôme, Paris in 2017; Burn the Formwork for Skulptur Projekte Münster, Germany in 2017; and Un pont sans fin for Nouveaux Commanditaires, Belfort, France in 2016.

Artworks Nested Slideshow

Artworks Nested Slideshow Thumbnails
Oscar Tuazon
Fire Worship, 2019
Concrete, refractory cement, stainless steel, and fire
Dimensions variable
Installation view: Oscar Tuazon: Fire Worship, Aspen Art Museum, 2019. Photo: Tony Prikryl

Oscar Tuazon
Fire Worship, 2019
Concrete, refractory cement, stainless steel, and fire
Dimensions variable
Installation view: Oscar Tuazon: Fire Worship, Aspen Art Museum, 2019. Photo: Tony Prikryl

Oscar Tuazon
Rocket Stove (Camp Turtle Island), 2019
Stainless steel drum, ceramic fiber board, mortar, steel, stainless steel
64 1/2 x 17 x 17 inches
(163.8 x 43.2 x 43.2 cm)

Oscar Tuazon
Rocket Stove (Camp Turtle Island), 2019
Stainless steel drum, ceramic fiber board, mortar, steel, stainless steel
64 1/2 x 17 x 17 inches
(163.8 x 43.2 x 43.2 cm)

Oscar Tuazon
Sunset Studio, 2019
Douglas fir, oak, red cedar, powder-coated steel, galvanized steel screws
75 x 82 x 6 inches
(190.5 x 208.3 x 15.2 cm)

Oscar Tuazon
Sunset Studio, 2019
Douglas fir, oak, red cedar, powder-coated steel, galvanized steel screws
75 x 82 x 6 inches
(190.5 x 208.3 x 15.2 cm)

Oscar Tuazon
Growth Rings, 2019
Wood, Douglas fir
Site-specific installation of 3 large wood rings

Oscar Tuazon
Growth Rings, 2019
Wood, Douglas fir
Site-specific installation of 3 large wood rings

Oscar Tuazon
White Walls, 2012/2019
Steel, concrete, drywall, paint
86 x 86 x 48 inches
(218.4 x 218.4 x 121.9 cm)
 

Oscar Tuazon
White Walls, 2012/2019
Steel, concrete, drywall, paint
86 x 86 x 48 inches
(218.4 x 218.4 x 121.9 cm)
 

Oscar Tuazon
Los Angeles Water School (LAWS), 2018
Mixed media
Photo: Jeremy Jansen

Oscar Tuazon
Los Angeles Water School (LAWS), 2018
Mixed media
Photo: Jeremy Jansen

Oscar Tuazon
Une Colonne d'Eau, 2017
Four elements: Life Prototype, Rainwater, Sun Riot, Water Column
Installation view
October 16 – November 9, 2017
Place Vendôme, Paris

Oscar Tuazon
Une Colonne d'Eau, 2017
Four elements: Life Prototype, Rainwater, Sun Riot, Water Column
Installation view
October 16 – November 9, 2017
Place Vendôme, Paris

Oscar Tuazon
Burn the Formwork (Fire Building), 2017
Concrete, wood, fire
Skulptur Projecte Münster
© Skulptur Projekte 2017, Photo: Henning Rogge

 

Oscar Tuazon
Burn the Formwork (Fire Building), 2017
Concrete, wood, fire
Skulptur Projecte Münster
© Skulptur Projekte 2017, Photo: Henning Rogge

 

Oscar Tuazon
Quonset Tent, 2016
Aluminum, acrylic, wood, glass, pipe
89 3/4 x 239 3/8 x 157 1/2 inches
(228 x 608 x 400.1 cm)

 

Installation view Oscar Tuazon, Shelters, Galerie Chantal Crousel, Paris, France (2106). Photo: Florian Kleinefenn.

Oscar Tuazon
Quonset Tent, 2016
Aluminum, acrylic, wood, glass, pipe
89 3/4 x 239 3/8 x 157 1/2 inches
(228 x 608 x 400.1 cm)

 

Installation view Oscar Tuazon, Shelters, Galerie Chantal Crousel, Paris, France (2106). Photo: Florian Kleinefenn.

Oscar Tuazon
Hammer Projects: Oscar Tuazon
Installation view
February 6 – May 22, 2016
Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
Photo: Brian Forrest

Oscar Tuazon
Hammer Projects: Oscar Tuazon
Installation view
February 6 – May 22, 2016
Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
Photo: Brian Forrest

Oscar Tuazon
Pipe Prototype, 2015
Fiberglass, concrete, sonotube
21 1/4 x 49 1/2 x 61 inches
(54 x 125.5 x 155 cm)
February 6 – May 22, 2016
Installation view of Hammer Projects: Oscar Tuazon at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
Photo: Brian Forrest

Oscar Tuazon
Pipe Prototype, 2015
Fiberglass, concrete, sonotube
21 1/4 x 49 1/2 x 61 inches
(54 x 125.5 x 155 cm)
February 6 – May 22, 2016
Installation view of Hammer Projects: Oscar Tuazon at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
Photo: Brian Forrest

Oscar Tuazon
Installation view
February 14 – May 17, 2015
Le Consortium, Dijon, France
Photo: André Morin

Oscar Tuazon
Installation view
February 14 – May 17, 2015
Le Consortium, Dijon, France
Photo: André Morin

Oscar Tuazon
Beyond the realm of speech, 2013
Steel, acryl glass, luminescent tube, blinds, drywall installation, wood
78 3/4 x 120 1/8 x 65 inches
(200 x 305 x 165 cm)
Photo: Stefan Altenburger, Zurich

Oscar Tuazon
Beyond the realm of speech, 2013
Steel, acryl glass, luminescent tube, blinds, drywall installation, wood
78 3/4 x 120 1/8 x 65 inches
(200 x 305 x 165 cm)
Photo: Stefan Altenburger, Zurich

Oscar Tuazon
Sex Machine, 2012
Chestnut tree, pump, water
Approximately 315 x 98 3/8 x 98 3/8 inches (800 x 250 x 250 cm)
Photo: Rebecca Fanuele

Oscar Tuazon
Sex Machine, 2012
Chestnut tree, pump, water
Approximately 315 x 98 3/8 x 98 3/8 inches (800 x 250 x 250 cm)
Photo: Rebecca Fanuele

Oscar Tuazon
Untitled, 2010
Pine, steel
Approximately 472 1/2 x 787 2/5 x 177 1/5 inches (1200 x 2000 x 450 cm)
February 13 – April 25, 2010
Installation view of Oscar Tuazon at Kunsthalle Bern
Photo: Dominique Uldry

Oscar Tuazon
Untitled, 2010
Pine, steel
Approximately 472 1/2 x 787 2/5 x 177 1/5 inches (1200 x 2000 x 450 cm)
February 13 – April 25, 2010
Installation view of Oscar Tuazon at Kunsthalle Bern
Photo: Dominique Uldry

Oscar Tuazon
Fire Worship, 2019
Concrete, refractory cement, stainless steel, and fire
Dimensions variable
Installation view: Oscar Tuazon: Fire Worship, Aspen Art Museum, 2019. Photo: Tony Prikryl
Oscar Tuazon
Rocket Stove (Camp Turtle Island), 2019
Stainless steel drum, ceramic fiber board, mortar, steel, stainless steel
64 1/2 x 17 x 17 inches
(163.8 x 43.2 x 43.2 cm)
Oscar Tuazon
Sunset Studio, 2019
Douglas fir, oak, red cedar, powder-coated steel, galvanized steel screws
75 x 82 x 6 inches
(190.5 x 208.3 x 15.2 cm)
Oscar Tuazon
Growth Rings, 2019
Wood, Douglas fir
Site-specific installation of 3 large wood rings
Oscar Tuazon
White Walls, 2012/2019
Steel, concrete, drywall, paint
86 x 86 x 48 inches
(218.4 x 218.4 x 121.9 cm)
 
Oscar Tuazon
Los Angeles Water School (LAWS), 2018
Mixed media
Photo: Jeremy Jansen
Oscar Tuazon
Une Colonne d'Eau, 2017
Four elements: Life Prototype, Rainwater, Sun Riot, Water Column
Installation view
October 16 – November 9, 2017
Place Vendôme, Paris
Oscar Tuazon
Burn the Formwork (Fire Building), 2017
Concrete, wood, fire
Skulptur Projecte Münster
© Skulptur Projekte 2017, Photo: Henning Rogge

 
Oscar Tuazon
Quonset Tent, 2016
Aluminum, acrylic, wood, glass, pipe
89 3/4 x 239 3/8 x 157 1/2 inches
(228 x 608 x 400.1 cm)

 

Installation view Oscar Tuazon, Shelters, Galerie Chantal Crousel, Paris, France (2106). Photo: Florian Kleinefenn.
Oscar Tuazon
Hammer Projects: Oscar Tuazon
Installation view
February 6 – May 22, 2016
Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
Photo: Brian Forrest
Oscar Tuazon
Pipe Prototype, 2015
Fiberglass, concrete, sonotube
21 1/4 x 49 1/2 x 61 inches
(54 x 125.5 x 155 cm)
February 6 – May 22, 2016
Installation view of Hammer Projects: Oscar Tuazon at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
Photo: Brian Forrest
Oscar Tuazon
Installation view
February 14 – May 17, 2015
Le Consortium, Dijon, France
Photo: André Morin
Oscar Tuazon
Beyond the realm of speech, 2013
Steel, acryl glass, luminescent tube, blinds, drywall installation, wood
78 3/4 x 120 1/8 x 65 inches
(200 x 305 x 165 cm)
Photo: Stefan Altenburger, Zurich
Oscar Tuazon
Sex Machine, 2012
Chestnut tree, pump, water
Approximately 315 x 98 3/8 x 98 3/8 inches (800 x 250 x 250 cm)
Photo: Rebecca Fanuele
Oscar Tuazon
Untitled, 2010
Pine, steel
Approximately 472 1/2 x 787 2/5 x 177 1/5 inches (1200 x 2000 x 450 cm)
February 13 – April 25, 2010
Installation view of Oscar Tuazon at Kunsthalle Bern
Photo: Dominique Uldry

Contact

For more information, please contact Sasha Helinski at sasha@luhringaugustine.com.

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