Archivio Conz

Al Hansen (1927, New York, USA – 1995, Cologne, Germany) was an American artist and key figure in the Fluxus movement, widely recognized for his pioneering work in performance art, assemblage, and mixed media. His creative output consistently challenged conventional boundaries between art and everyday experience. Born in New York City to a family of Norwegian heritage, Hansen served in the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II. While stationed in Germany, he staged an early act of performance art by pushing a piano off a building—an event that would later influence his well-known “Yoko Ono Piano Drop” performances. After the war, Hansen pursued studies at institutions such as the Art Students League and the New School for Social Research. It was at the New School where he took part in John Cage’s experimental composition classes, learning alongside future avant-garde artists like Allan Kaprow and Dick Higgins. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Hansen emerged as a forerunner of “Happenings,” a form of spontaneous, participatory performance that blurred the line between art and real life. His works often encouraged audience interaction and incorporated everyday objects and actions. He became closely associated with Andy Warhol’s Factory scene and founded the underground magazine Kiss, which featured contributions from Warhol and others. In his visual art, Hansen made collages and assemblages using discarded materials—such as candy wrappers and cigarette butts—creating abstract representations of the female form and frequently referencing prehistoric fertility icons like the Venus of Willendorf. Hansen wrote A Primer of Happenings and Time/Space Art in 1965, one of the early texts to define and explore the emerging field of performance art. He also taught at Rutgers University and Parsons School of Design, shaping the practices of many young artists. Later in life, Hansen moved to Cologne, Germany, where he co-founded the Ultimate Akademie, an alternative art school with a focus on performance and time-based media. He continued creating and performing until his death in Cologne in 1995. His artistic legacy continues through his family: his daughter Bibbe Hansen was part of Warhol’s circle, and his grandson, the musician Beck, has spoken about his grandfather’s lasting influence on his creative outlook. Hansen’s work remains a landmark in the evolution of performance and conceptual art