Amalia Ulman

Ulman was born in Argentina in 1989 and was raised in Gijón, in the Spanish province of Asturias, after emigrating with her family.{{cite web | title=Sydney Film Festival highlight El Planeta, David Lynch's Inland Empire and actor Hal Cumpston | website=ABC Radio National |first =Jason |last =Di Rosso|format =Audio + text| date=28 October 2021 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/the-screen-show/el-planeta,-david-lynch,-inland-empire,-hal-campston/13604086 | access-date=28 October 2021}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.lilianpacce.com.br/e-mais/amalia-ulman-sensacao-da-arte-contemporanea-atraves-das-redes-sociais/|title=Amalia Ulman: sensação da arte contemporânea - Lilian Pacce|date=2016-03-23|newspaper=Lilian Pacce|language=pt-BR|access-date=2016-12-22}}

In 2009, she left Spain to study at Central Saint Martins in London, where she graduated in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://bullettmedia.com/article/amalia-ulman-interview/|title=Artist, Feminist, Immigrant: An Interview With Amalia Ulman|work=bullettmedia.com|access-date=2015-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401224650/http://bullettmedia.com/article/amalia-ulman-interview/|archive-date=2015-04-01|url-status=dead}} In 2013, she was in a serious Greyhound bus accident that left her with a permanent disability.{{Cite news|url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_gb/article/from-plastic-surgery-to-public-meltdowns-amalia-ulman-is-turning-instagram-into-performance-art|title=from plastic surgery to public meltdowns amalia ulman is turning instagram into performance art|newspaper=i-D|access-date=2016-11-01|archive-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401235801/https://i-d.vice.com/en_gb/article/from-plastic-surgery-to-public-meltdowns-amalia-ulman-is-turning-instagram-into-performance-art|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.affidavit.art/articles/pyongyang-elegance|title=Pyongyang Elegance: Notes on Communism|newspaper=Affidavit|access-date=2018-02-12}}

In April 2013, Ulman presented a video essay Buyer, Walker, Rover as a Skype lecture at the Regional State Archives in Gothenburg.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/16293/1/celebrate-commerce-with-amalia-ulman|title=Celebrate commerce with Amalia Ulman|last=Dazed|date=2013-06-13|work=Dazed|access-date=2018-06-03|language=en}}

In 2014, she presented two solo shows in Los Angeles, Used & New at ltd Los Angeles{{Cite web|url=http://www.ltdlosangeles.com/AUCV14.pdf|title=Ulman's page at ltdlosangeles gallery|publisher=Ltd|access-date=3 July 2017|archive-date=31 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131073529/http://www.ltdlosangeles.com/AUCV14.pdf|url-status=dead}} and Delicious Works at Smart Objects, also in LA.{{Cite web|title=Amalia Ulman: Delicious Works|url=http://smartobjects.la/past/amalia-ulman%3A-delicious-works|website=Smart Objects|access-date=2020-05-24}}

The same year Ulman started Excellences & Perfections, a four-month performance on her Instagram account where she fabricated fictional characters whose story unfolded in three different episodes.{{Cite news|title=Social media have become a vital tool for artists — but are they good for art?|language=en-US|work=Los Angeles Times|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/miranda/la-et-cam-is-social-media-good-for-art-20160517-snap-htmlstory.html|access-date=2017-05-28|issn=0458-3035}}{{cite web|url=http://www.newmuseum.org/exhibitions/view/amalia-ulman-excellences-perfections|title=Amalia Ulman: Excellences & Perfections|work=newmuseum.org}} Her intention was to prove how easy an audience can be manipulated through the use of mainstream archetypes.Francesca Gavin, Kaleidoscope#23, Winter 2015.{{refn|group=n|The narrative which unfolded over the course of the performance "Excellences & Perfections" was presented as follows: "The provincial girl moves to the big city, wants to be a model, wants money, splits up with her high-school boyfriend, wants to change her lifestyle, enjoys singledom, runs out of money because she doesn't have a job, because she is too self-absorbed in her narcissism, she starts going on seeking-arrangement dates, gets a sugar daddy, gets depressed, starts doing more drugs, gets a boob job because her sugar daddy makes her feel insecure about her body, and also he pays for it, she goes through a breakdown, redemption takes place, the crazy bitch apologizes, the dumb blonde turns brunette and goes back home. Probably goes to rehab, then she is grounded at her family house."{{cite web|url=http://www.vulture.com/2014/12/how-amalia-ulman-became-an-instagram-celebrity.html|title=How Amalia Ulman Became an Instagram Celebrity|date=18 December 2014|work=vulture.com}}}} Instagram selfies were mainly taken sneaking into hotels and restaurants in Los Angeles and posted as if they were documenting a real life.[http://www.thefader.com/2014/11/07/social-anxiety-why-amalia-ulmans-middlebrow-instagram-feed-is-no-different-from-yours Emilie Friedlander The Fader, November 2014]{{Cite web |url=http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-features/interviews/the-new-new-face-amalia-ulman-/ |title=Goodman, Matthew Art in America Magazine June 2014 |access-date=2016-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102002345/https://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-features/interviews/the-new-new-face-amalia-ulman-/ |archive-date=2019-01-02 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.creativereview.co.uk/the-app-isnt-just-about-posting-pretty-pictures-dazeds-editor-and-social-media-manager-on-using-instagram/|title="The app isn't just about posting pretty pictures": Dazed's editor and social media manager on using Instagram - Creative Review|date=2015-11-02|newspaper=Creative Review|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-01-08}} It is a work that shifts the location of performance art and also extends ideas about feminist performance.{{Cite book |last=Best |first=Susan |title=It's not personal: post 60s body art and performance |date=2021 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-1-350-14414-9 |location=London New York}} Excellences and Perfections was later chosen to be a part of the Electronic Superhighway Exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.whitechapelgallery.org/about/press/press-release-electronic-superhighway/ | title = Press releases: Electronic Superhighway (2016 – 1966)}}

File:Amalia Ulman at The Influencers 2015.jpg

In October 2014, during Frieze Art Fair, Ulman presented a solo show The Destruction of Experience at Evelyn Yard in London.{{Cite news|url=http://www.evelynyard.com/exhibitions/the-destruction-of-experience-amalia-ulman/|title=Amalia-Ulman_The-Destruction-of-Experience_Evelyn-Yard|newspaper=Evelyn Yard|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-20}} For the show Ulman made "The Future Ahead", a video essay about Justin Bieber's "growth from angelic teenager to hetero-normative white male".{{Cite news|url=https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1ld0yQIgqA-ejlVbzgzNzFWeGs/edit|title=The_Future_Ahead_Amalia_Ulman_2014_Last_Edit.pdf|newspaper=Google Docs|access-date=2016-11-01}}

In January 2015, she presented Stock Images of War, her first solo show in New York City at James Fuentes Gallery.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jamesfuentes.com/artists/amalia-ulman|title=James Fuentes Gallery {{!}} Amalia Ulman|website=www.jamesfuentes.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-29}} It is an immersive installation composed of twelve simple wire-frame sculptures, each one being named after a different month of the year – i.e. "War in January", "War in February", etc.{{cite web|url=http://amaliaulman.eu/|title=Amalia's Website|work=amaliaulman.eu}}{{cite journal|date=March 2015|title=Killing in the Name|url=https://www.textezurkunst.de/97/edmonson-killing-in-the-name/|journal=Texte zur Kunst|issue=97|page=196|last1=Tess|first1=Edmonso|access-date=16 September 2015}} Towards the end of the same year, Ulman started Privilege, a second, year long, Instagram performance that lasted until shortly after the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The work presented an exaggerated version of Ulman that explored multiplicity in a corporate office setting.

In 2016 Excellences and Perfections was selected to be included in the group exhibition Performing for the Camera at Tate Modern, London (February—June 2016).{{Cite web|url=http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/articles/performing-for-the-camera-5-key-artists|title=Performing for the Camera: 5 key artists {{!}} Tate|website=www.tate.org.uk|access-date=2016-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402222254/http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/articles/performing-for-the-camera-5-key-artists|archive-date=2018-04-02|url-status=dead}} The exhibition, examined the relationship between photography and performance, brought together over 500 works spanning 150 years from the invention of photography to the selfie-culture of today.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/performing-camera|title=Performing for the Camera - Exhibition at Tate Modern {{!}} Tate|last=Tate|website=Tate|access-date=2016-12-04}} Through Ulman's Instagram-based project, social media was examined in the historical context of photographic performances.{{Cite journal|last=Baker|first=Simon|title=Performing for the Camera: 5 key artists|url=http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/articles/performing-for-the-camera-5-key-artists|access-date=2016-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402222254/http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/articles/performing-for-the-camera-5-key-artists|archive-date=2018-04-02|url-status=dead}} The installation was also part of the exhibition Electronic Highway at Whitechapel Gallery in London.{{Cite news|url=http://www.whitechapelgallery.org/about/press/press-release-electronic-superhighway/|title=Press Release - Electronic Superhighway - Whitechapel Gallery|newspaper=Whitechapel Gallery|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-11}} Ulman has been described as the first social network-based artist to enter top institutional galleries,{{Cite news|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/29342/1/instagram-artist-to-feature-in-major-tate-exhibition|title=Instagram artist to feature in major Tate exhibition|last=Dazed|date=2016-01-22|newspaper=Dazed|access-date=2016-12-04}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.numerama.com/pop-culture/140141-amalia-ulman-fait-entrer-instagram-au-musee.html|title=Amalia Ulman fait entrer Instagram au Tate Modern - Pop culture - Numerama|last=Pillon|first=Adèle|date=2016-01-23|newspaper=Numerama|language=fr-FR|access-date=2016-12-04}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.slate.fr/story/113329/faux-compte-instagram-art-contemporain|title=Le faux compte Instagram qui affole le monde de l'art contemporain|newspaper=Slate.fr|language=fr-FR|access-date=2016-12-04}} and the "First great Instagram Artist" by Elle magazine.{{Cite news|date=2016-09-16|title=Amalia Ulman Is the First Great Instagram Artist|newspaper=ELLE|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/art-design/a38857/amalia-ulman-instagram-artist/|access-date=2016-12-21}}

In 2018, Excellences & Perfections was published as a book by Prestel. It includes the Instagram posts that she used for the project and essays by German artist Hito Steyerl, editor Rob Horning and others.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/style/article/amalia-ulman-instagram-excellences-perfections/index.html|title=The provocative Instagram art hoax that fooled thousands|first=Alicia |last=Eler|date=2018-03-29|website=CNN Style|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}}

In 2021, Ulman premiered her first feature film, El Planeta, at the Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/festivals/sundance-el-planeta-amalia-ulman-1234896376/|title=Artist Amalia Ulman Makes Her Feature Debut with Sundance Contender 'El Planeta'|date=30 January 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/el-planeta-heralds-amalia-ulman-as-an-invigorating-new-cinematic-voice|title = "El Planeta" Heralds Amalia Ulman as an Invigorating New Cinematic Voice|date = February 2021}} Ulman wrote, produced, and directed the feature, which stars herself and her mother. An absurdist comedy, the film centers on the story of a mother and daughter facing eviction in post-crisis Spain and scamming their way to a more comfortable lifestyle. The film is loosely based on the real-life Spanish mother-daughter petty-crime duo Justina and Ana Belén.{{Cite web|url=https://www.artforum.com/film/gilda-williams-on-amalia-ulman-s-el-planeta-2021-84945|title=Gilda Williams on Amalia Ulman's el Planeta (2021)}} The film was shot in black and white in Gijon, the Spanish town where Ulman grew up. In March 2021, film distribution company Utopia announced that it had bought the North American rights to El Planeta.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/global/utopia-media-sundance-title-el-planeta-1234932618/|title=Utopia Nabs North American Rights to Sundance Hit 'El Planeta' (Exclusive)|date=17 March 2021}} The film was selected for screening at the Brisbane International Film Festival and the Sydney Film Festival in October and November 2021 respectively.

Ulman's next film will deal with climate change and will be shot in northern Argentina, where she was born.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/festivals/sundance-el-planeta-amalia-ulman-1234896376/|title=Artist Amalia Ulman Makes Her Feature Debut with Sundance Contender 'El Planeta'|date=30 January 2021}}

As of 2021, Ulman lives with her husband in New York City.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2021/09/who-is-amalia-ulman.html|title=You Don’t Know Amalia Ulman|work=Vulture|access-date=2021-09-24|language=en-US}} Ulman is autistic.{{cite web |last=Ruiz Mantilla |first=Jesús |title=Amalia Ulman: "Desde que supe que tenía autismo, mi vida cobró sentido" |url=https://elpais.com/cultura/2021-12-06/amalia-ulman-desde-que-supe-que-tenia-autismo-mi-vida-cobro-sentido.html |language=es|trans-title=Amalia Ulman: "Ever since I found out I have autism, my life has made sense" |website=El Pais |access-date=8 January 2022}}

{{Gray|2012}}

• Savings & Shelves, Headquarters, Zurich{{Cite web|url=http://360.io/hMAzDZ|title=360 Panorama of "Savings & Shelves"(2012)|website=360 Panorama|access-date=2017-01-08}}
• Overcome, cleanse, Galeria Adriana Suarez, Gijon{{Cite web|url=http://amaliaulman.eu/overcomecleanse|title=Overcome, cleanse (July, 2012)|website=amaliaulman.eu|access-date=2016-12-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222081224/http://amaliaulman.eu/overcomecleanse|archive-date=2016-12-22|url-status=dead}}{{Better source|date=June 2019}}

{{Gray|2013}}

• Promise a Future, Marbriers 4, Geneva{{Cite web|url=http://marbriers4.ch/project/promise-a-future|title=Amalia Ulman — Promise a Future – Marbriers 4|website=marbriers4.ch|access-date=2016-12-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222225210/http://marbriers4.ch/project/promise-a-future|archive-date=2016-12-22|url-status=dead}}
• Moist Forever, Future Gallery, Berlin{{Cite web|url=http://futuregallery.org/amalia-ulman-moist-forever/|title=Future Gallery|website=futuregallery.org|access-date=2017-01-08}}
• Ethira, Arcadia Missa, London{{Cite web|url=http://arcadiamissa.com/amalia-ulman/|title=Arcadia Missa}}

{{Gray|2014}}

• Used & New, Ltd, Los Angeles
• Delicious Works, Smart Objects, Los Angeles{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}
• Babyfootprints Crow's Feet, Ellis King, Dublin{{Cite web|title=Baby Footprints Crow’s Feet {{!}} Artsy|url=https://www.artsy.net/show/ellis-king-baby-footprints-crows-feet|access-date=2022-02-13|website=www.artsy.net}}
• The Destruction of Experience, Evelyn Yard Gallery, London

{{Gray|2015}}

• Stock Images of War, James Fuentes Gallery, New York City
• International House Of Cozy, Showroom MAMA, Rotterdam{{Cite web|url=http://amaliaulman.eu/IHOC.html|title=International House Of Cozy, May 2015|website=amaliaulman.eu|access-date=2016-12-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129040949/http://amaliaulman.eu/IHOC.html|archive-date=2016-11-29|url-status=dead}}{{Better source|date=June 2019}}

{{Gray|2016}}

• Reputation, New Galerie, Paris{{Cite web|url=http://www.newgalerie.com/?page=exhibitions&id=50|title=New Galerie|website=www.newgalerie.com|access-date=2016-12-20}}{{Cite news|url=http://curamagazine.com/tips/amalia-ulman-at-new-galerie-paris/|title=Amalia Ulman at New Galerie, Paris|newspaper=CURA.|access-date=2016-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217033628/http://curamagazine.com/tips/amalia-ulman-at-new-galerie-paris/|archive-date=2016-12-17|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1734419/last-chance-amalia-ulman-at-new-galerie-paris|title=Last chance: Amalia Ulman at New Galerie, Paris {{!}} Artinfo|newspaper=Artinfo|access-date=2016-12-22|archive-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223133713/http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1734419/last-chance-amalia-ulman-at-new-galerie-paris|url-status=dead}}
• Labour Dance, Arcadia Missa, London

{{Gray|2017}}

• Dignity, James Fuentes Gallery, New York City{{Cite web|url=http://www.nyartbeat.com/event/2017/7668|title=Amalia Ulman "Dignity"|website=www.nyartbeat.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-29}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.artnews.com/2017/03/28/dirty-dancing-amalia-ulmans-intriguing-show-at-james-fuentes-rings-hollow/|title=Dirty Dancing: Amalia Ulman's Intriguing Show at James Fuentes Rings Hollow {{!}} ARTnews|website=www.artnews.com|date=28 March 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-29}}
• Intolerance, Barro, Buenos Aires{{Cite web|url=http://www.barro.cc/en/exhibitions/1006/intolerance|title=Barro {{!}} Arte contemporáneo {{!}} Intolerance|website=www.barro.cc|language=en|access-date=2017-12-15}}
• Monday Cartoons, Deborah Schamoni, Munich{{Cite web|url=http://deborahschamoni.com/exhibitions/amalia-ulman/|title=Deborah Schamoni – Amalia Ulman|website=deborahschamoni.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-12-15}}
• Atchoum!, Galerie Sympa, Figeac{{Cite web|url=http://galerie-sympa.fr/amalia-ulman/|title=Amalia Ulman|website=galerie-sympa.fr|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-12-15}}
• New World 1717, Rockbund Art Museum, Shanghai{{Cite web|url=http://www.rockbundartmuseum.org/en/exhibition/overview/ab0cpts|title=Ram Highlight 2017: Displace {{!}} Exhibition |website=www.rockbundartmuseum.org|access-date=2017-12-15}}

{{Gray|2018}}

• Privilege, James Fuentes Gallery, New York City{{Cite web|url=https://jamesfuentes.com/exhibitions/privilege|title=Amalia Ulman, "Privilege"|website=jamesfuentes.com|language=en|access-date=2012-11-12}}

• Aliza Shvarts
• Post-Internet art

{{reflist|group=n|69em}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|amaliaulman.eu}}
• Cadence Kinsey, [http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160307-the-instagram-artist-who-fooled-thousands "The Instagram artist who fooled thousands"] on the BBC website.
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDPnybBZRFY "Buyer, walker, rover" Skype lecture, Regional State Archives in Gothenburg, 2013]
• [https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/amalia-ulman-instagram-excellences-perfections/index.html Amalia Ulman's Instagram performance exposed the flaws in selfie culture], CNN

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ulman, Amalia}}

Category:1989 births

Category:21st-century Spanish women artists

Category:Spanish women photographers

Category:Living people

Category:Spanish contemporary artists

Category:Spanish digital artists

Category:Argentine digital artists

Category:Argentine photographers

Category:Argentine women photographers

Category:Women digital artists

Category:Argentine emigrants to Spain

Category:Spanish photographers

Category:Spanish sculptors

Category:Spanish performance artists

Category:Internet art

Category:New media artists

Category:21st-century women photographers

Category:Spanish expatriates in the United States