Joseph Kosuth

Joseph Kosuth (American, born 1945) is a foundational figure in Conceptual art, best known for works that treat language as the primary material. He rose to prominence by questioning how meaning is produced—using definitions, text installations, and object-image-word relationships to probe what art is and how it signifies. His practice helped shift attention from craft and composition to ideas, systems, and interpretation. Kosuth’s influence extends through contemporary installation, institutional critique, and text-based art worldwide.