PaulSharits
Biography
Paul Sharits (1943–1993) was a groundbreaking American experimental filmmaker and visual artist, best known for his radical contributions to structural film and his exploration of perception through the moving image. Born in Denver, Colorado, Sharits studied painting at the University of Denver, where he was influenced by the renowned filmmaker Stan Brakhage. He later pursued graduate studies in visual design at Indiana University, where his interest shifted more intensely toward film as a medium for both sensory and conceptual inquiry. Sharits emerged in the 1960s as a central figure in the structural film movement—a genre marked by its emphasis on form, repetition, and cinematic structure rather than narrative storytelling. His early “flicker films,” such as Ray Gun Virus (1966), Piece Mandala/End War (1966), and T,O,U,C,H,I,N,G (1968), are notable for their rapid, rhythmic alternations of color frames and sound bursts, pushing viewers into heightened states of visual and psychological awareness. These films weren't just meant to be watched—they were meant to be felt, experienced on both a sensory and cerebral level. Beyond single-channel film, Sharits also developed complex multi-projector installations and film environments, experimenting with the physical and spatial properties of cinema. His work blurred the lines between film, painting, and performance, positioning him at the intersection of conceptual art and experimental cinema. Sharits taught at various institutions throughout his career, most notably at the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he was a professor in the Department of Media Studies. His influence extended through both his teaching and his art, shaping generations of artists and filmmakers who sought to challenge traditional modes of seeing. His work has been exhibited internationally in major museums and galleries, and his films are held in the collections of institutions such as The Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Paul Sharits died in 1993 in Buffalo, New York. His legacy remains vital to the world of experimental film, where his innovations continue to inspire new ways of thinking about time, color, sound, and the very fabric of cinematic experience.
