Jordan Wolfson

Jordan Wolfson (b. 1980) is an American contemporary artist best known for his provocative and unsettling multimedia works. Working across video, installation, sculpture, and performance, Wolfson confronts themes of violence, sexuality, consumer culture, and identity. His practice frequently uses cutting-edge technology—such as animatronics, CGI, and virtual reality—to create works that feel both disturbingly lifelike and deeply uncanny.

Wolfson rose to prominence with works like Female Figure (2014), a choreographed animatronic doll that dances in a mirror while locking eyes with the viewer, and Colored Sculpture (2016), a brutal robotic installation where a cartoonish puppet is repeatedly dragged and smashed around the gallery. These pieces blend spectacle with menace, demanding an emotional response while critiquing the darker undercurrents of contemporary life.

Often described as one of the most controversial figures of his generation, Wolfson explores power dynamics, morality, and the role of the spectator. His work forces confrontation—between attraction and repulsion, empathy and alienation—placing viewers in ethically ambiguous positions.

Wolfson’s art has been exhibited internationally, including solo shows at Tate Modern, the Stedelijk Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. He continues to challenge expectations of what art can do, using technology not for comfort or entertainment, but as a mirror to society’s desires and cruelties.