Bill Viola (American)
 

Bill Viola (b.1951) is considered a pioneer in the medium of video art and is internationally recognized as one of today's leading artists. He received his BFA in Experimental Studies from Syracuse University in 1973 and traveled widely to study and record traditional performing arts. Viola's first large exhibition toured six venues in Europe beginning in 1992, organized by the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf. In 1977 Viola was invited to show his videotapes at La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia) by cultural arts director Kira Perov, who later became his wife. Their alliance has been a lifelong collaboration of work and travels. Bill Viola has been instrumental in the establishment of video as a vital form of contemporary art and has helped to greatly expand its scope in terms of technology, content, and historical reach. For over 35 years he has created videotapes, architectural video installations, sound environments, electronic music performances, flat panel video pieces, and works for television broadcast. Viola's installations - total environments that envelop the viewer in image and sound - employ state-of-the-art technologies and are distinguished by their precision and direct simplicity. They are shown in museums, galleries and distinguished collections worldwide including: the Whitney museum of American Art; the Kunsthalle in Düsseldorf; J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 2003; the National Gallery, London; the Fondación "La Caixa", Madrid; and the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.