Untitled (Smoking Robot Woman) & Untitled (Two Worms)

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Marcel Dzama is a prolific multidisciplinary artist whose work is populated by imaginary people, animals, and hybrid characters who explore human actions and impulses through violence, eroticism and the absurd. In addition to his watercolours—which bring to mind children’s storybook illustrations and are recognizable by their muted palette—he also creates collages, videos, installations, and dioramas that are reminiscent of Joseph Cornell’s work. Dada and Marcel Duchamp are other obvious influences. Dzama has also illustrated album covers and designed costumes and stage sets. His work is included in several important museum collections throughout North America and around the world, and was the subject of a first retrospective in 2010 at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, and a first monograph (New York: Abrams, 2013). Dzama received a BFA from the University of Manitoba (1997). He lives and works in New York, and has been represented by David Zwirner since 1998.