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Biography

Tauba Auerbach’s work (b. 1981, San Francisco, CA) contemplates structure and connectivity on the microscopic to the universal scale. Building on crafts in many disciplines, Auerbach often invents tools and techniques for inducing material behaviors. The artist’s hand is recognizable in work across a wide variety of media including painting, weaving, glass sculpture, photography, video, calligraphy and musical instrument design. In 2013, Auerbach founded Diagonal Press to formalize their ongoing typography and book-design practice. Auerbach’s work is included in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, and the Centre Pompidou, among others. In 2021, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art presented S v Z — a 17 year survey of Auerbach’s work. Exhibitions of their work have been presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland; the Institute of Contemporary Art, London; and Bergen Kunsthall in Norway, which traveled to venues in Sweden and Belgium. In 2018, the Public Art Fund organized Auerbach’s acclaimed public project, Flow Separation, in New York Harbor. 

Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails
Tauba Auerbach: Tide, Fridericianum, Kassel, July 15, 2023 – January 14, 2024

Installation view, Tauba Auerbach: Tide, Fridericianum, Kassel, July 15, 2023 – January 14, 2024.

Tauba Auerbach Grain - Mandelbrot Quartet Escape (Ventrella Variation), 2022 acrylic paint on canvas, wood stretcher 60 x 45 in. (152.4 x 114.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Grain - Mandelbrot Quartet Escape (Ventrella Variation), 2022
acrylic paint on canvas, wood stretcher
60 x 45 in. (152.4 x 114.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach 
Org, 2023
woven glass beads
5 x 70 1/2 x 23 in. (12.7 x 179.1 x 58.4 cm)
Tauba Auerbach 
Org, 2023
woven glass beads
5 x 70 1/2 x 23 in. (12.7 x 179.1 x 58.4 cm)
Tauba Auerbach 
Org, 2023
woven glass beads
5 x 70 1/2 x 23 in. (12.7 x 179.1 x 58.4 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Org, 2023
woven glass beads
5 x 70 1/2 x 23 in. (12.7 x 179.1 x 58.4 cm)

Tauba Auerbach 
Foam, 2023
acrylic on dibond
16 x 24 x 1 in. (40.6 x 61 x 2.5 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Foam, 2023
acrylic on dibond
16 x 24 x 1 in. (40.6 x 61 x 2.5 cm)

Tauba Auerbach Spontaneous Lace, 2023 kiln-formed glass in aluminum armature 48 x 8 3/4 x 3/8 in. (121.9 x 22.2 x 1 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Spontaneous Lace, 2023
kiln-formed glass in aluminum armature
48 x 8 3/4 x 3/8 in. (121.9 x 22.2 x 1 cm)

Tauba Auerbach Ligature Drawing, 12 June 2022, 2022 ink on paper with date stamp 32 1/2 x 27 in. (82.6 x 68.6 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Ligature Drawing, 12 June 2022, 2022
ink on paper with date stamp
32 1/2 x 27 in. (82.6 x 68.6 cm)

Tauba Auerbach Spontaneous Lace, 2023 kiln-formed glass in aluminum armature 42 x 7 1/4 x 3/8 in. (106.7 x 18.4 x 1 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Spontaneous Lace, 2023
kiln-formed glass in aluminum armature
42 x 7 1/4 x 3/8 in. (106.7 x 18.4 x 1 cm)

Tauba Auerbach, Grain - 2nd Iteration Peano Vapor (Variation I) II, 2022, acrylic on canvas, wood stretcher, 60 x 45 in. (152.4 x 114.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Grain - 2nd Iteration Peano Vapor (Variation I) II, 2022
acrylic on canvas, wood stretcher
60 x 45 in. (152.4 x 114.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Extended Object, 2020
acrylic on canvas
14 x 18 in. (35.6 x 45.7 cm)
frame: 15 1/4 x 19 1/4 x 3 1/2 in. (464.8 x 48.9 x 8.9 cm)
 

Tauba Auerbach
Extended Object, 2020
acrylic on canvas
14 x 18 in. (35.6 x 45.7 cm)
frame: 15 1/4 x 19 1/4 x 3 1/2 in. (464.8 x 48.9 x 8.9 cm)
 

Tauba Auerbach, Grain - Grain - Periodic Mandelbrot Quartet, 2022, acrylic on canvas, wood stretcher, 60 x 45 in. (152.4 x 114.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Grain - Periodic Mandelbrot Quartet, 2022
acrylic on canvas, wood stretcher
60 x 45 in. (152.4 x 114.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach Non-Invasive Procedure, 2018 adjustable height medical table, light box, three lenses with stainless steel supports, polarized film, plastic and glass medical table overall dimensions: 69 1/2 x 48 x 95 in. (176.5 x 121.9 x 241.3 cm)
Tauba Auerbach
Non-Invasive Procedure, 2018
adjustable height medical table, light box, three lenses with stainless steel supports, polarized film, plastic and glass
medical table
overall dimensions: 69 1/2 x 48 x 95 in. (176.5 x 121.9 x 241.3 cm)
Tauba Auerbach
Non-Invasive Procedure, 2018
adjustable height medical table, light box, three lenses with stainless steel supports, polarized film, plastic and glass
medical table
overall dimensions: 69 1/2 x 48 x 95 in. (176.5 x 121.9 x 241.3 cm)
Tauba Auerbach Non-Invasive Procedure, 2018 adjustable height medical table, light box, three lenses with stainless steel supports, polarized film, plastic and glass medical table overall dimensions: 69 1/2 x 48 x 95 in. (176.5 x 121.9 x 241.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Non-Invasive Procedure, 2018
adjustable height medical table, light box, three lenses with stainless steel supports, polarized film, plastic and glass
medical table
overall dimensions: 69 1/2 x 48 x 95 in. (176.5 x 121.9 x 241.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach Pilot Wave Induction III, 2018 single-channel HD video; 16:10, color, sound; duration: 9'03" (looped) dimensions variable Edition 3 of 6, + 2 APs Percussion: Greg Fox Camera: Rafe Scobey-Thal
Tauba Auerbach
Pilot Wave Induction III, 2018
single-channel HD video; 16:10, color, sound; duration: 9'03" (looped)
dimensions variable
Edition 3 of 6, + 2 APs
Percussion: Greg Fox
Camera: Rafe Scobey-Thal
Tauba Auerbach Pilot Wave Induction III, 2018 single-channel HD video; 16:10, color, sound; duration: 9'03" (looped) dimensions variable Edition 3 of 6, + 2 APs Percussion: Greg Fox Camera: Rafe Scobey-Thal

Tauba Auerbach
Pilot Wave Induction III, 2018
single-channel HD video; 16:10, color, sound; duration: 9'03" (looped)
dimensions variable
Edition 3 of 6, + 2 APs
Percussion: Greg Fox
Camera: Rafe Scobey-Thal

Tauba Auerbach Where there had once been a snag in the fabric, 2018 Borosilicate glass on cushioned physical therapy table sculpture: 6 3/4 x 18  x 66 1/2 in. (17.1 x 45.7 x 168.9 cm) base: 86 x 33 1/4 x 48 in. (218.4 x 84.5 x 121.9 cm)
Tauba Auerbach
Where there had once been a snag in the fabric, 2018
Borosilicate glass on cushioned physical therapy table
sculpture: 6 3/4 x 18  x 66 1/2 in. (17.1 x 45.7 x 168.9 cm)
base: 86 x 33 1/4 x 48 in. (218.4 x 84.5 x 121.9 cm)
Tauba Auerbach Where there had once been a snag in the fabric, 2018 Borosilicate glass on cushioned physical therapy table sculpture: 6 3/4 x 18  x 66 1/2 in. (17.1 x 45.7 x 168.9 cm) base: 86 x 33 1/4 x 48 in. (218.4 x 84.5 x 121.9 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Where there had once been a snag in the fabric, 2018
Borosilicate glass on cushioned physical therapy table
sculpture: 6 3/4 x 18  x 66 1/2 in. (17.1 x 45.7 x 168.9 cm)
base: 86 x 33 1/4 x 48 in. (218.4 x 84.5 x 121.9 cm)

Flow Separation, 2018, Commissioned by Public Art Fund and 14-18 NOW and presented on Fireboat John J. Harvey in New York Harbor July 1, 2018 – May 12, 2019., Image by Nicholas Knight, courtesy Public Art Fund, NY.
Flow Separation, 2018, Commissioned by Public Art Fund and 14-18 NOW and presented on Fireboat John J. Harvey in New York Harbor July 1, 2018 – May 12, 2019., Image by Nicholas Knight, courtesy Public Art Fund, NY.

 
Flow Separation, 2018, Commissioned by Public Art Fund and 14-18 NOW and presented on Fireboat John J. Harvey in New York Harbor July 1, 2018 – May 12, 2019., Image by Nicholas Knight, courtesy Public Art Fund, NY.

Flow Separation, 2018, Commissioned by Public Art Fund and 14-18 NOW and presented on Fireboat John J. Harvey in New York Harbor July 1, 2018 – May 12, 2019., Image by Nicholas Knight, courtesy Public Art Fund, NY.

Tauba Auerbach A Flexible Fabric of Inflexible Parts, 2015 borosilicate glass on table of aluminum, wood and paint 11 helical components each approximately 3 x 3 x 31 1/2 inches (7.6 x 7.6 x 80 cm). Overall dimensions: 3 x 78 x 25 inches (7.6 x 198.1 x 63.5 cm) table: 23 1/2 x 84 x 84 in. (59.7 x 213.4 x 213.4 cm)
Tauba Auerbach
A Flexible Fabric of Inflexible Parts, 2015
borosilicate glass on table of aluminum, wood and paint
11 helical components each approximately 3 x 3 x 31 1/2 inches (7.6 x 7.6 x 80 cm). Overall dimensions: 3 x 78 x 25 inches (7.6 x 198.1 x 63.5 cm)
table: 23 1/2 x 84 x 84 in. (59.7 x 213.4 x 213.4 cm)
Tauba Auerbach A Flexible Fabric of Inflexible Parts, 2015 borosilicate glass on table of aluminum, wood and paint 11 helical components each approximately 3 x 3 x 31 1/2 inches (7.6 x 7.6 x 80 cm). Overall dimensions: 3 x 78 x 25 inches (7.6 x 198.1 x 63.5 cm) table: 23 1/2 x 84 x 84 in. (59.7 x 213.4 x 213.4 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
A Flexible Fabric of Inflexible Parts, 2015
borosilicate glass on table of aluminum, wood and paint
11 helical components each approximately 3 x 3 x 31 1/2 inches (7.6 x 7.6 x 80 cm). Overall dimensions: 3 x 78 x 25 inches (7.6 x 198.1 x 63.5 cm)
table: 23 1/2 x 84 x 84 in. (59.7 x 213.4 x 213.4 cm)

Reciprocal Score: Tauba Auerbach + Charlotte Posenenske, Studio Indipendenza , Rome, Italy, 2015.

Reciprocal Score: Tauba Auerbach + Charlotte Posenenske, Studio Indipendenza , Rome, Italy, 2015.

 

Tetrachromat, Malmö Konsthall, Sweden, 2012.

Tetrachromat, Malmö Konsthall, Sweden, 2012.

Tauba Auerbach Chiral Fret (Meander)/Extrusion/Ghost, 2015 woven canvas on wooden stretcher 80 x 60 in. (203.2 x 152.4 cm)
Tauba Auerbach
Chiral Fret (Meander)/Extrusion/Ghost, 2015
woven canvas on wooden stretcher
80 x 60 in. (203.2 x 152.4 cm)

 
Tauba Auerbach Chiral Fret (Meander)/Extrusion/Ghost, 2015 woven canvas on wooden stretcher 80 x 60 in. (203.2 x 152.4 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Chiral Fret (Meander)/Extrusion/Ghost, 2015
woven canvas on wooden stretcher
80 x 60 in. (203.2 x 152.4 cm)

 

Tauba Auerbach Float, 2011 UV cured ink on 0.4mm polycarbonate with acrylic, brass closed: 12 1/4 x 10 1/4 x 2 1/2 in. (31.1 x 26 x 6.4 cm) Edition 8 of 8, + 2 APs
Tauba Auerbach
Float, 2011
UV cured ink on 0.4mm polycarbonate with acrylic, brass
closed: 12 1/4 x 10 1/4 x 2 1/2 in. (31.1 x 26 x 6.4 cm)
Edition 8 of 8, + 2 APs
Tauba Auerbach Float, 2011 UV cured ink on 0.4mm polycarbonate with acrylic, brass closed: 12 1/4 x 10 1/4 x 2 1/2 in. (31.1 x 26 x 6.4 cm) Edition 8 of 8, + 2 APs

Tauba Auerbach
Float, 2011
UV cured ink on 0.4mm polycarbonate with acrylic, brass
closed: 12 1/4 x 10 1/4 x 2 1/2 in. (31.1 x 26 x 6.4 cm)
Edition 8 of 8, + 2 APs

Auerglass, 2009 collaboration with Cameron Miserow, AKA Glasser wood, acrylic, steel, copper, leather, felt 190.5 x 31.5 x 116 inches; 483.9 x 80 x 294.6 cm

Auerglass, 2009
collaboration with Cameron Mesirow, AKA Glasser
wood, acrylic, steel, copper, leather, felt
190.5 x 31.5 x 116 inches; 483.9 x 80 x 294.6 cm

Tauba Auerbach: Tide, Fridericianum, Kassel, July 15, 2023 – January 14, 2024

Installation view, Tauba Auerbach: Tide, Fridericianum, Kassel, July 15, 2023 – January 14, 2024.

Tauba Auerbach Grain - Mandelbrot Quartet Escape (Ventrella Variation), 2022 acrylic paint on canvas, wood stretcher 60 x 45 in. (152.4 x 114.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Grain - Mandelbrot Quartet Escape (Ventrella Variation), 2022
acrylic paint on canvas, wood stretcher
60 x 45 in. (152.4 x 114.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach 
Org, 2023
woven glass beads
5 x 70 1/2 x 23 in. (12.7 x 179.1 x 58.4 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Org, 2023
woven glass beads
5 x 70 1/2 x 23 in. (12.7 x 179.1 x 58.4 cm)

Tauba Auerbach 
Foam, 2023
acrylic on dibond
16 x 24 x 1 in. (40.6 x 61 x 2.5 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Foam, 2023
acrylic on dibond
16 x 24 x 1 in. (40.6 x 61 x 2.5 cm)

Tauba Auerbach Spontaneous Lace, 2023 kiln-formed glass in aluminum armature 48 x 8 3/4 x 3/8 in. (121.9 x 22.2 x 1 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Spontaneous Lace, 2023
kiln-formed glass in aluminum armature
48 x 8 3/4 x 3/8 in. (121.9 x 22.2 x 1 cm)

Tauba Auerbach Ligature Drawing, 12 June 2022, 2022 ink on paper with date stamp 32 1/2 x 27 in. (82.6 x 68.6 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Ligature Drawing, 12 June 2022, 2022
ink on paper with date stamp
32 1/2 x 27 in. (82.6 x 68.6 cm)

Tauba Auerbach Spontaneous Lace, 2023 kiln-formed glass in aluminum armature 42 x 7 1/4 x 3/8 in. (106.7 x 18.4 x 1 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Spontaneous Lace, 2023
kiln-formed glass in aluminum armature
42 x 7 1/4 x 3/8 in. (106.7 x 18.4 x 1 cm)

Tauba Auerbach, Grain - 2nd Iteration Peano Vapor (Variation I) II, 2022, acrylic on canvas, wood stretcher, 60 x 45 in. (152.4 x 114.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Grain - 2nd Iteration Peano Vapor (Variation I) II, 2022
acrylic on canvas, wood stretcher
60 x 45 in. (152.4 x 114.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Extended Object, 2020
acrylic on canvas
14 x 18 in. (35.6 x 45.7 cm)
frame: 15 1/4 x 19 1/4 x 3 1/2 in. (464.8 x 48.9 x 8.9 cm)
 

Tauba Auerbach
Extended Object, 2020
acrylic on canvas
14 x 18 in. (35.6 x 45.7 cm)
frame: 15 1/4 x 19 1/4 x 3 1/2 in. (464.8 x 48.9 x 8.9 cm)
 

Tauba Auerbach, Grain - Grain - Periodic Mandelbrot Quartet, 2022, acrylic on canvas, wood stretcher, 60 x 45 in. (152.4 x 114.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Grain - Periodic Mandelbrot Quartet, 2022
acrylic on canvas, wood stretcher
60 x 45 in. (152.4 x 114.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach Non-Invasive Procedure, 2018 adjustable height medical table, light box, three lenses with stainless steel supports, polarized film, plastic and glass medical table overall dimensions: 69 1/2 x 48 x 95 in. (176.5 x 121.9 x 241.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Non-Invasive Procedure, 2018
adjustable height medical table, light box, three lenses with stainless steel supports, polarized film, plastic and glass
medical table
overall dimensions: 69 1/2 x 48 x 95 in. (176.5 x 121.9 x 241.3 cm)

Tauba Auerbach Pilot Wave Induction III, 2018 single-channel HD video; 16:10, color, sound; duration: 9'03" (looped) dimensions variable Edition 3 of 6, + 2 APs Percussion: Greg Fox Camera: Rafe Scobey-Thal

Tauba Auerbach
Pilot Wave Induction III, 2018
single-channel HD video; 16:10, color, sound; duration: 9'03" (looped)
dimensions variable
Edition 3 of 6, + 2 APs
Percussion: Greg Fox
Camera: Rafe Scobey-Thal

Tauba Auerbach Where there had once been a snag in the fabric, 2018 Borosilicate glass on cushioned physical therapy table sculpture: 6 3/4 x 18  x 66 1/2 in. (17.1 x 45.7 x 168.9 cm) base: 86 x 33 1/4 x 48 in. (218.4 x 84.5 x 121.9 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Where there had once been a snag in the fabric, 2018
Borosilicate glass on cushioned physical therapy table
sculpture: 6 3/4 x 18  x 66 1/2 in. (17.1 x 45.7 x 168.9 cm)
base: 86 x 33 1/4 x 48 in. (218.4 x 84.5 x 121.9 cm)

Flow Separation, 2018, Commissioned by Public Art Fund and 14-18 NOW and presented on Fireboat John J. Harvey in New York Harbor July 1, 2018 – May 12, 2019., Image by Nicholas Knight, courtesy Public Art Fund, NY.

Flow Separation, 2018, Commissioned by Public Art Fund and 14-18 NOW and presented on Fireboat John J. Harvey in New York Harbor July 1, 2018 – May 12, 2019., Image by Nicholas Knight, courtesy Public Art Fund, NY.

Tauba Auerbach A Flexible Fabric of Inflexible Parts, 2015 borosilicate glass on table of aluminum, wood and paint 11 helical components each approximately 3 x 3 x 31 1/2 inches (7.6 x 7.6 x 80 cm). Overall dimensions: 3 x 78 x 25 inches (7.6 x 198.1 x 63.5 cm) table: 23 1/2 x 84 x 84 in. (59.7 x 213.4 x 213.4 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
A Flexible Fabric of Inflexible Parts, 2015
borosilicate glass on table of aluminum, wood and paint
11 helical components each approximately 3 x 3 x 31 1/2 inches (7.6 x 7.6 x 80 cm). Overall dimensions: 3 x 78 x 25 inches (7.6 x 198.1 x 63.5 cm)
table: 23 1/2 x 84 x 84 in. (59.7 x 213.4 x 213.4 cm)

Reciprocal Score: Tauba Auerbach + Charlotte Posenenske, Studio Indipendenza , Rome, Italy, 2015.

Reciprocal Score: Tauba Auerbach + Charlotte Posenenske, Studio Indipendenza , Rome, Italy, 2015.

 

Tetrachromat, Malmö Konsthall, Sweden, 2012.

Tetrachromat, Malmö Konsthall, Sweden, 2012.

Tauba Auerbach Chiral Fret (Meander)/Extrusion/Ghost, 2015 woven canvas on wooden stretcher 80 x 60 in. (203.2 x 152.4 cm)

Tauba Auerbach
Chiral Fret (Meander)/Extrusion/Ghost, 2015
woven canvas on wooden stretcher
80 x 60 in. (203.2 x 152.4 cm)

 

Tauba Auerbach Float, 2011 UV cured ink on 0.4mm polycarbonate with acrylic, brass closed: 12 1/4 x 10 1/4 x 2 1/2 in. (31.1 x 26 x 6.4 cm) Edition 8 of 8, + 2 APs

Tauba Auerbach
Float, 2011
UV cured ink on 0.4mm polycarbonate with acrylic, brass
closed: 12 1/4 x 10 1/4 x 2 1/2 in. (31.1 x 26 x 6.4 cm)
Edition 8 of 8, + 2 APs

Auerglass, 2009 collaboration with Cameron Miserow, AKA Glasser wood, acrylic, steel, copper, leather, felt 190.5 x 31.5 x 116 inches; 483.9 x 80 x 294.6 cm

Auerglass, 2009
collaboration with Cameron Mesirow, AKA Glasser
wood, acrylic, steel, copper, leather, felt
190.5 x 31.5 x 116 inches; 483.9 x 80 x 294.6 cm

Video

Tauba Auerbach in "Bodies of Knowledge", Season 11 of Art21

Video walkthrough of Tauba Auerbach: Free Will, March 18 – April 22, 2023