American artist Jenny Holzer is best known for her works in public space, in which she combines technology, language and political statement to create multimedia installations. Beginning as an abstract painter in the 1970s, she eventually found in words and writing a suitable means of expression for the realisation of her artistic ideas. From posters, T-shirts and stone benches to neon signs and LED display panels to light projections, Holzer uses a variety of materials to visualise her messages. Although her works appear quite poetic, they often conceal a shocking truth. Holzer always has her finger on the pulse of the times and takes up socio-politically uncomfortable topics: Power, populism, war, violence are taken into account as well as gender issues or environmental concerns. In 1990, Holzer was the first woman to represent the USA at the Venice Biennale, where she was awarded the Golden Lion.
