Bill Viola, a pioneering video artist, passed away at 73 at his home in Long Beach, California, on Friday, July 12, following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. His death was confirmed by James Cohan, the artist’s representing gallery.
Viola is remembered for his reflective video portraits, experimental soundscapes, and immersive new media installations that delve into universal human experiences such as life, death, and evolving consciousness. Throughout his five-decade career, Viola played a key role in establishing video as a contemporary art form, exploring the possibilities of image and sound technology through single-channel displays, special effects, and closed-circuit sculptural installations.
He frequently referenced this experience in his work, drawing inspiration from this memory and spiritual traditions such as Zen Buddhism, Islamic Sufism, and Christian mysticism. This is evident in pieces like his five-part video series *The Reflecting Pool* (1977–79), which challenges viewers’ perceptions of time and consciousness by focusing on transitional moments, such as the shift from day to night or movement to stillness.
“I see that media technology is not at odds with our inner selves, but in fact a reflection of it,” Viola stated in a 2007 lecture.
