Geoffrey Hendricks

Sky/Stairs #2 (Milwaukee)

Geoffrey Hendricks was a visual artist associated with the Fluxus movement. The leaders of an international, interdisciplinary movement of artists, composers, designers, and poets during the 1960s and 1970s, members of Fluxus engaged in experimental art practices and Happenings, with a shared emphasis on process over product. Hendricks was nicknamed "Cloudsmith by fellow Fluxus artist Dick Higgins, in reference to his expansive multimedia body of work depicting cloud-filled skies in paintings, on objects, in installations, and in performances.

This body of work ultimately culminated in a retrospective exhibition More than 100 Skies at the Fondation du Doute in Blois, France, in 2017. Hendricks is also remembered for his Headstand performances, executed between 1994 and 2012. These radically minimalist performances engaged the smallest fixed space the artists body could occupy. For their duration, Hendricks posed standing on his head, for extended periods of time, often painted blue or with sculptural elements or signage dangling from his feet.

Hendricks work has been included in exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York and the Museum of Modern Art, New York among others. He was Professor Emeritus of Art at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, where he taught from 1956 until his retirement in 2003.

Geoffrey Hendricks was a visual artist associated with the Fluxus movement. The leaders of an international, interdisciplinary movement of artists, composers, designers, and poets during the 1960s and 1970s, members of Fluxus engaged in experimental art practices and Happenings, with a shared emphasis on process over product. Hendricks was nicknamed "Cloudsmith by fellow Fluxus artist Dick Higgins, in reference to his expansive multimedia body of work depicting cloud-filled skies in paintings, on objects, in installations, and in performances.

This body of work ultimately culminated in a retrospective exhibition More than 100 Skies at the Fondation du Doute in Blois, France, in 2017. Hendricks is also remembered for his Headstand performances, executed between 1994 and 2012. These radically minimalist performances engaged the smallest fixed space the artists body could occupy. For their duration, Hendricks posed standing on his head, for extended periods of time, often painted blue or with sculptural elements or signage dangling from his feet.

Hendricks work has been included in exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York and the Museum of Modern Art, New York among others. He was Professor Emeritus of Art at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, where he taught from 1956 until his retirement in 2003.

Geoffrey Hendricks was a visual artist associated with the Fluxus movement. The leaders of an international, interdisciplinary movement of artists, composers, designers, and poets during the 1960s and 1970s, members of Fluxus engaged in experimental art practices and Happenings, with a shared emphasis on process over product. Hendricks was nicknamed "Cloudsmith by fellow Fluxus artist Dick Higgins, in reference to his expansive multimedia body of work depicting cloud-filled skies in paintings, on objects, in installations, and in performances.

This body of work ultimately culminated in a retrospective exhibition More than 100 Skies at the Fondation du Doute in Blois, France, in 2017. Hendricks is also remembered for his Headstand performances, executed between 1994 and 2012. These radically minimalist performances engaged the smallest fixed space the artists body could occupy. For their duration, Hendricks posed standing on his head, for extended periods of time, often painted blue or with sculptural elements or signage dangling from his feet.

Hendricks work has been included in exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York and the Museum of Modern Art, New York among others. He was Professor Emeritus of Art at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, where he taught from 1956 until his retirement in 2003.

Geoffrey Hendricks

Geoffrey Hendricks

Sky/Stairs #2 (Milwaukee)

Exhibition

Exhibition

Materials & Dimensions

Materials & Dimensions

Vinyl

Dimensions variable

Year

Year

2022

Site

Site

Museum Center Park

Credits

Credits

Courtesy of the Estate of Geoffrey Hendricks.

Maren Hassinger

Pyramid (Monument)

Maren Hassinger

Pyramid (Monument)

Maren Hassinger

Pyramid (Monument)

Rashid Johnson

The Crisis

Rashid Johnson

The Crisis

Rashid Johnson

The Crisis

Joan Jonas

Six Feet (A Measuring Distance)

Joan Jonas

Six Feet (A Measuring Distance)

Joan Jonas

Six Feet (A Measuring Distance)

thank you

To our generous sponsors, partners, collaborators, and supporters who make our work possible.

presenting

Founding & Sustaining
Sponsors

* indicates both Founding and sustaining founding sponsor

Anonymous
Donna & Donald Baumgartner*
Black Box Fund
Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation
Susan & Mark Irgens*
Mellowes Family*
Sue & Bud Selig*
Julie & David Uihlein*

sculpture

Wayne & Lori Morgan

Visionary

George & Karen Oliver

Exhibition Partner

leader

Anonymous
Baird Center
Heil Family Foundation
Godfrey & Kahn

Collaborator

Betty Arndt
City of Milwaukee Arts Board
Kelli Gabel & Craig Karmazin
GRAEF
Guardian Fine Art Services
Hawks Landscaping
Mark Jungers
New Land Enterprises
Raymond & Barbara Krueger
ManpowerGroup
National Endowment for the Arts
Nonprofit Management Fund
Austin Ramirez
Syslogic Inc
Wisconsin Arts Board

Connector

BMO
Foley & Lardner
Imagine MKE
MajicPro
Milwaukee Magazine
Open Pantry
PNC Bank
PwC
Russ Darrow Group
Town Bank
US Bank
WeycoGroup
Woman's Club of Wisconsin Foundation

Sculpture Milwaukee is always free and open to the public thanks to our generous supporters.

We work with trusted community partners to ensure great contemporary art is accessible to all.

Sign up to receive news about our exhibitions and artworks, announcements, events and more

© 2025 Sculpture Milwaukee

thank you

To our generous sponsors, partners, collaborators, and supporters who make our work possible.

presenting

Founding & Sustaining
Sponsors

* indicates both Founding and sustaining founding sponsor

Anonymous
Donna & Donald Baumgartner*
Black Box Fund
Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation
Susan & Mark Irgens*
Mellowes Family*
Sue & Bud Selig*
Julie & David Uihlein*

sculpture

Wayne & Lori Morgan

Visionary

George & Karen Oliver

Exhibition Partner

leader

Anonymous
Baird Center
Heil Family Foundation
Godfrey & Kahn

Collaborator

Betty Arndt
City of Milwaukee Arts Board
Kelli Gabel & Craig Karmazin
GRAEF
Guardian Fine Art Services
Hawks Landscaping
Mark Jungers
New Land Enterprises
Raymond & Barbara Krueger
ManpowerGroup
National Endowment for the Arts
Nonprofit Management Fund
Austin Ramirez
Syslogic Inc
Wisconsin Arts Board

Connector

BMO
Foley & Lardner
Imagine MKE
MajicPro
Milwaukee Magazine
Open Pantry
PNC Bank
PwC
Russ Darrow Group
Town Bank
US Bank
WeycoGroup
Woman's Club of Wisconsin Foundation

Sculpture Milwaukee is always free and open to the public thanks to our generous supporters.

We work with trusted community partners to ensure great contemporary art is accessible to all.

Sign up to receive news about our exhibitions and artworks, announcements, events and more

© 2025 Sculpture Milwaukee

thank you

To our generous sponsors, partners, collaborators, and supporters who make our work possible.

presenting

Founding & Sustaining
Sponsors

* indicates both Founding and sustaining founding sponsor

Anonymous
Donna & Donald Baumgartner*
Black Box Fund
Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation
Susan & Mark Irgens*
Mellowes Family*
Sue & Bud Selig*
Julie & David Uihlein*

sculpture

Wayne & Lori Morgan

Visionary

George & Karen Oliver

Exhibition Partner

leader

Anonymous
Baird Center
Heil Family Foundation
Godfrey & Kahn

Collaborator

Betty Arndt
City of Milwaukee Arts Board
Kelli Gabel & Craig Karmazin
GRAEF
Guardian Fine Art Services
Hawks Landscaping
Mark Jungers
New Land Enterprises
Raymond & Barbara Krueger
ManpowerGroup
National Endowment for the Arts
Nonprofit Management Fund
Austin Ramirez
Syslogic Inc
Wisconsin Arts Board

Connector

BMO
Foley & Lardner
Imagine MKE
MajicPro
Milwaukee Magazine
Open Pantry
PNC Bank
PwC
Russ Darrow Group
Town Bank
US Bank
WeycoGroup
Woman's Club of Wisconsin Foundation

Sculpture Milwaukee is always free and open to the public thanks to our generous supporters.

We work with trusted community partners to ensure great contemporary art is accessible to all.

Sign up to receive news about our exhibitions and artworks, announcements, events and more

© 2025 Sculpture Milwaukee