Bruce Conner’s Innovative Experimental Films Explore the Marciano Art Foundation in Los Angeles
Marciano Art Foundation Presents "Bruce Conner / Recording Angel" Exhibition
The Marciano Art Foundation (MAF) is showcasing "BRUCE CONNER / RECORDING ANGEL," an exhibition celebrating the groundbreaking experimental films of the late artist Bruce Conner. This major exhibition runs from February 21 through July 18, 2026, in the Foundation’s Theater Gallery.
Curated by independent curator Douglas Fogle, the exhibition features seven of Conner’s most iconic films, reflecting nearly five decades of his artistic evolution. The films are presented in an innovative alternating sequence across four screens, highlighting Conner’s distinctive use of light, sound, and found footage.
Bruce Conner (1933–2008) is often heralded as a pioneer of remix and cut-up techniques in filmmaking, earning him the title of the “father of the music video.” His rapid editing style allows for a complex exploration of 20th-century American themes, such as consumerism, authoritarianism, and the looming threat of nuclear conflict.
Exhibition visitors will experience a diverse array of Conner’s masterpieces. The foundational 1958 work A MOVIE combines clips from Westerns, newsreels of car crashes, and soft-core films, all set against Ottorino Respighi’s “Pines of Rome.” Another key piece, CROSSROADS (1976), offers a reimagined view of the 1946 Operation Crossroads underwater atomic bomb tests, accompanied by a haunting score from Patrick Gleeson and Terry Riley.
Conner’s adept blending of sound and image is further illustrated in BREAKAWAY (1966) and LOOKING FOR MUSHROOMS (1959-1967), featuring music by choreographer Toni Basil and The Beatles, respectively. Additionally, works like MONGOLOID (1978) and AMERICA IS WAITING (1981) repurpose industrial films to accompany tracks by Devo and Brian Eno with David Byrne, challenging traditional narratives of the American Dream. The exhibition culminates with THREE SCREEN RAY (2006), a vibrant tribute to rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles.
Conner’s work is deeply intertwined with American counterculture, drawing influences from the Beat poets of the 1950s to the punk movements of the 1970s and ’80s. The Foundation notes that Conner’s insights into conformity and power remain as relevant today as they were during his lifetime.
The exhibition "BRUCE CONNER / RECORDING ANGEL" will be open until July 18, 2026. Admission to MAF is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
