Tom Marioni

As a central figure in California's Conceptual Art scene of the late 60s and early 70s, Tom Marioni has carved out a revered space in the history of contemporary art. Born in Cincinnati in 1937, Marioni attended the Art Academy of Cincinnati for painting and sculpture. Marioni eventually settled in San Francisco where he began to experiment with the implications of early conceptualism and social works of art. In 1970 Marioni founded the Museum of Conceptual Art, which he described as "a large scale social work of art." Marioni is a pioneering figure in the idea of social interaction as a material for art, valuing the action over the object. His signature work, The Act of Drinking Beer with Friends is the Highest Form of Art (1970), is a seminal work which continues to this day. Each Wednesday Marioni enacts The Act of Drinking Beer with Friends by serving beer and hosting this communal experience in his studio. Tom Marioni: Beer, Art and Philosophy will survey more than 35 years of actions, sculptures, drawings and installations by this versatile artist.

This exhibition is organized by the CAC associate curator Matt Distel and Alice & Harris Weston Director Linda Shearer.

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Tom Marioni