Andres Serrano

Key facts

Born

1950, American^[1]

Works held in

3 museums

Wikipedia

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• What is Andres Serrano known for?+

  Andres Serrano is best known for his 1987 photograph Immersion (Piss Christ). It depicts a small plastic crucifix submerged in a yellow liquid, which the title indicates is Serrano's urine.
• What is Andres Serrano's most famous work?+

  Andres Serrano's most famous work is likely *Immersion (Piss Christ)*, a 1987 photograph. The piece depicts a small plastic crucifix submerged in what the title specifies is the artist's urine. It is one of a series called *Immersions*, which involved Christian devotional objects in fluids such as water, milk, and blood, as well as urine. Serrano, who was raised Catholic, has stated the image should be viewed as devotional. He has explained that it represents all the bodily fluids associated with Christ’s crucifixion. He has also described the work as a critique of the commercialisation of religion through mass-produced souvenirs. Serrano suggests many Christians have become desensitised to what the crucifix represents. The work has been the subject of controversy and physical attacks. In 1997, the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne tried to stop the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia, from displaying it. Someone later tried to remove the work from the gallery, and two teenagers attacked it with a hammer. The gallery director eventually closed the exhibition after receiving death threats.
• What should I know about Andres Serrano's prints?+

  Collecting photographs, like collecting any art, begins with a passion for the work. Collectors should understand different print types and their condition. Photographic processes have evolved over 180 years, using materials from silver and sheet metal to glass and paper, each yielding unique results. Photographs, while robust with proper care, are susceptible to issues like foxing, creasing, and UV degradation, similar to other print media. Editioning is also important. Edition sizes vary and affect value. Some artists bolster their income by selling photographic editions related to other work. The print market values individual execution, reflecting artistic ideology. Variations are acceptable if the principle is protected. A signed photograph is considered original, acknowledging its conformity with the artist's idea. The distinction between an original and a reproduction is complex in photography. A photograph of a painting is a reproduction, but a photograph of a photograph is a duplicate of the same nature as the original.
• What style or movement did Andres Serrano belong to?+

  Andres Serrano is often associated with the art of the late 20th century that generated public debate about artistic expression and public funding. His work, which includes photography, frequently deals with themes of religion, death, and the human body. Serrano gained notoriety in 1989 with *Piss Christ*, a photograph of a crucifix submerged in urine. The work was part of an exhibition funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which led to considerable controversy and calls for the work's removal. Critics, such as Reverend Donald Wildmon, considered it blasphemous and immoral. The controversy surrounding *Piss Christ*, along with the exhibition of Robert Mapplethorpe's photographs, fuelled a broader debate about the role of public funding in supporting the arts and the limits of artistic freedom. Despite the controversy, Serrano has defended his work, stating that he did not intend blasphemy or offence, and that he is a follower of Christ. In 1997, a retrospective of Serrano's work at the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia also faced opposition, with attempts to censor and vandalise *Immersion (Piss Christ)*.
• What techniques or materials did Andres Serrano use?+

  Without access to specific information about Andres Serrano's methods, I can offer some general observations about artistic techniques. Artists employ a wide range of materials, from traditional media such as oils, watercolours, and pencils to more unconventional items. Mixed-media work combines different materials in a single piece. Collage, for example, involves affixing various objects to a surface. Assemblage is a related technique that typically incorporates three-dimensional elements. Photography offers its own set of techniques. Artists may manipulate photographs through enlargement, fragmentation, painting, or drawing. Photomontage combines multiple photographic images. The photogram, also known as rayography, is produced by placing objects on light-sensitive paper. Solarisation is a process that reverses tones in a photographic print. The choice of materials and techniques depends on the artist's vision and the message they wish to convey. Some artists favour direct, unadorned methods, while others create complex, multi-layered works. Experimentation and innovation are common in contemporary art.
• What was Andres Serrano known for?+

  Andres Serrano is an American^[1] artist and photographer (born 1950^[1]). He is known for his controversial photographs, particularly *Immersion (Piss Christ)* from 1987. This work depicts a small plastic crucifix submerged in what Serrano stated was his own urine. It is one of a series called *Immersions*, which involved Christian devotional objects in fluids like milk, blood, and urine. Without the title, viewers might not recognise the liquid as urine. Serrano, who had a Catholic upbringing, insisted the image was not sacrilegious. He stated it should be seen as a work of devotion, representing the bodily fluids associated with Christ’s crucifixion. He also presented it as a critique of the commercialisation of religion through mass-produced souvenirs. During a 1997 retrospective at the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia, the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne sought an injunction to prevent the display of *Immersion (Piss Christ)*; the injunction was not granted. Subsequently, there was an attempt to remove the work, and two teenagers attacked it with a hammer. The gallery received death threats, and the exhibition was closed. Serrano stated that the photograph criticised the ‘billion-dollar Christ-for-profit industry’ and condemned those who abuse Christ’s teachings.
• Where can I see Andres Serrano's work?+

  Andres Serrano's art is exhibited in museums around the world. In the United States, several institutions house his pieces. You can find his work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Other US museums that have shown Serrano's work include the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Richmond) and the Wolfsonian at Florida International University (Miami Beach). In the United Kingdom, one can view fine-art photography at the Victoria & Albert Museum (London), the Manchester Art Gallery, the National Museums of Scotland (Edinburgh), and the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery. These venues may include Serrano's images in their collections or temporary exhibitions. Check museum websites for current details.
• Where was Andres Serrano from?+

  Andres Serrano was not from the United States. Lucas Samaras was born in Kastoria, Macedonia, Greece, on 14 September 1936; in 1948, he moved with his mother to West New York, New Jersey, where his father had previously emigrated in 1939. He became a US citizen in 1955. Lyle Ashton Harris was born in New York City. Catherine Opie was born in Sandusky, Ohio, on 14 April 1961; at thirteen, she moved to Rancho Bernardo, California. Yasumasa Morimura was born in Osaka, Japan, on 11 June 1951. Hannah Hoch was born in Gotha, Germany, on 1 November 1889. Madame Yevonde Cumbers Middleton was born in London on 5 January 1893. Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburgh on 6 August 1928.
• Who did Andres Serrano influence?+

  Andres Serrano's work has been seen as both devotional and deliberately provocative. His series *Immersions* (1987) involved Christian objects submerged in fluids like milk, blood, and urine. *Immersion (Piss Christ)* (1987), a photograph of a crucifix in urine, became a focus for debate about art, religion, and censorship. Serrano stated that the work was not intended as sacrilegious. He argued it represented the bodily fluids involved in Christ’s crucifixion, and criticised the commercialisation of religion. Eleanor Heartney, in *Postmodern Heretics: The Catholic Imagination in Contemporary Art* (2004), considers Serrano's conflicted relationship with his childhood religion as distinct from artists such as Robert Mapplethorpe. She places Serrano at the opposite end of a spectrum from Mapplethorpe, closer to Robert Gober, in his serene acceptance of the duality of heaven and hell. Serrano's art has invited strong reactions. In 1997, a retrospective in Australia led to attempts to censor and physically attack his work.
• Who influenced Andres Serrano?+

  It is difficult to identify specific influences on Andres Serrano from the material provided. The texts discuss a number of artists, including Man Ray, Robert Mapplethorpe, Annette Messager, Pierre Molinier, Lucas Samaras, Cindy Sherman, Katharina Sieverding, Yasumasa Morimura, and Catherine Opie; however, none are explicitly linked to Serrano's artistic development. Several of these artists worked with photography and explored themes related to identity, gender, and social critique. Man Ray, for example, experimented with surrealist photography in Paris during the 1920s. Mapplethorpe explored portraiture and homoerotic imagery. Sherman is known for her photographic series that critique representation and identity. Molinier created sexually transgressive photomontages. Messager manipulated photographs of body parts to create strange and unsettling images. Without more direct information, it is impossible to state definitively who influenced Serrano. The artists mentioned here worked with similar media and themes, but their connection to Serrano remains speculative.
• Who was Andres Serrano?+

  Andres Serrano, born in 1950^[1], is an American^[1] artist and photographer. He is known for his controversial 1987 photograph, *Immersion (Piss Christ)*. The image depicts a plastic crucifix submerged in what Serrano stated was his own urine. It is one of a series called *Immersions*, which involved Christian objects in fluids such as milk, blood, and urine. Serrano, who was raised Catholic, has stated that the work was not intended to be sacrilegious. He has said that it should be viewed as a work of devotion, representing the bodily fluids associated with Christ's crucifixion. He also suggested it critiques the commercialisation of religion through mass-produced souvenirs. *Immersion (Piss Christ)* has been the subject of controversy and physical attacks. In 1997, a retrospective of Serrano's work at the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia was met with attempts to censor and remove the work. The gallery eventually closed the exhibition due to death threats.
• Why are Andres Serrano's works important today?+

  Andres Serrano, born in 1950^[1], is an American^[1] artist and photographer whose work continues to provoke discussion. He is known for his series, Immersions, which features Christian devotional objects submerged in fluids such as water, milk, blood, and urine. His 1987 photograph, Immersion (Piss Christ), depicts a plastic crucifix submerged in what the title identifies as Serrano's urine. The work generated considerable controversy. Serrano stated that the photograph was not intended to be sacrilegious. He explained that it represents the bodily fluids involved in Christ's crucifixion and critiques the commercialisation of religion through mass-produced souvenirs. He suggested that Christians have become desensitised to the crucifix's true meaning. In 1997, a retrospective of Serrano's work at the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia included Immersion (Piss Christ). George Pell, the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, sought an injunction to prevent the gallery from displaying it; the injunction was denied. Subsequently, someone attempted to remove the work, and two teenagers attacked it with a hammer. The gallery received death threats, and the exhibition was closed. Despite the controversy, Sister Wendy Beckett, a Catholic nun and art critic, suggested the work served as an admonishment, highlighting a lack of reverence for Christ's sacrifice in modern life.